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.
Joynes
Robin L
RL
Department of Psychology, Kent State University, 118 Kent Hall, Kent, OH 44242, USA. rjoynes@kent.edu
Janjua
Kamran
K
Grau
James W
JW
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