Standard object recognition memory and "what" and "where" components: Improvement by post-training epinephrine in highly habituated rats.
The present work examined whether post-training systemic epinephrine (EPI) is able to modulate short-term (3h) and long-term (24 h and 48 h) memory of standard object recognition, as well as long-term (24 h) memory of separate "what" (object identity) and "where" (object location) components of object recognition. Although object recognition training is associated to low arousal levels, all the animals received habituation to the training box in order to further reduce emotional arousal. Post-training EPI improved long-term (24 h and 48 h), but not short-term (3 h), memory in the standard object recognition task, as well as 24 h memory for both object identity and object location. These data indicate that post-training epinephrine: (1) facilitates long-term memory for standard object recognition; (2) exerts separate facilitatory effects on "what" (object identity) and "where" (object location) components of object recognition; and (3) is capable of improving memory for a low arousing task even in highly habituated rats.
Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
Patricia
P
Jurado-Berbel
David
D
Costa-Miserachs
Meritxell
M
Torras-Garcia
Margalida
M
Coll-Andreu
Isabel
I
Portell-Cortés
D000818:Animals; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology
D004837:Epinephrine