Aging facilitates long-trace taste-aversion conditioning in rats.
In order to examine age-related changes in long-trace conditioning, five age groups (0.25, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 years) of Wistar-derived female albino rats were subjected to taste-aversion conditioning at one of five conditioned stimulus-conditioned stimulus (CS-US) intervals (0, 45, 90, 180, and 360 min). Age differences in the strength of the aversion were evident at CS-US intervals greater than 0 min and the strength of the aversion was directly related to age. An aversion was conditioned in only the two oldest age groups when the CS-US interval was 360 min. The age differences in taste-aversion and the superior long-trace conditioning in old-age rats were attributed to factors that accompany aging, for example, the gradual slowing down of a metabolic pacemaker.
Misanin
James R
JR
Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA 17870, USA. misanin@susqu.edu
Collins
Michele
M
Rushanan
Scott
S
Anderson
Matthew J
MJ
Goodhart
Mark
M
Hinderliter
Charles F
CF
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012439:Saccharin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D012439:Saccharin; D018021:Lithium Chloride