Instrumental learning within the spinal cord: VI. The NMDA receptor antagonist, AP5, disrupts the acquisition and maintenance of an acquired flexion response.
Prior studies have shown that circuits within the spinal cord can support a simple form of instrumental learning. Spinally transected rats are given shock to one hind leg whenever the leg is extended. This response-outcome contingency causes an increase in flexion duration. The present experiments examine whether the NMDA receptor is involved in the acquisition and maintenance of this instrumental response. Experiment 1 showed that the NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate acid (AP5) reduces instrumental responding in a dose-dependent fashion. Experiment 2 showed that AP5 given after training eliminates the increase in flexion duration. The results implicate the NMDA receptor in the acquisition and maintenance of spinally mediated instrumental behavior.
Department of Psychology, Kent State University, 118 Kent Hall, Kent, OH 44242, USA. rjoynes@kent.edu
Robin L
RL
Joynes
Kamran
K
Janjua
James W
JW
Grau
D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004597:Electroshock / Q000379:methods; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008297:Male; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate