title: Low-threshold N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function correlates negatively with learning.
abstract: The intermediate, medial hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV) is an area of the forebrain of the domestic chick which exhibits great plasticity. Moreover, there is a strong link between plasticity in the IMHV and specific changes in behaviour. The IMHV in vitro is still plastic, and many of its physiological properties are age-dependent, peaking in slices taken from 3- or 4-day-old birds. This 'window' coincides with an important transitional period in a chick's normal behavioural development. It has also been claimed that reversal training is at its most effective in 3- and 4-day-old birds - a proposition which was confirmed by the experiments reported here. A combination of in vivo training followed by in vitro electrophysiology also revealed that the function of low-threshold N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (one of the age-related variables) is negatively related to the effectiveness of reversal training, when age is held constant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000502:physiology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D007173:Imprinting, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate