title: Importance of associative learning processes for one-trial behavioral sensitization of preweanling rats.
abstract: During adulthood, associative learning is necessary for the expression of one-trial behavioral sensitization; however, it is uncertain whether the same associative processes are operative during the preweanling period. Two strategies were used to assess the importance of associative learning for one-trial behavioral sensitization of preweanling rats. In the initial experiments, we varied both the sequence and time interval between presentation of the conditioned stimulus (CS, novel environment) and unconditioned stimulus (US, cocaine). In the final experiment, we determined whether electroconvulsive shock-induced retrograde amnesia would disrupt one-trial behavioral sensitization. Results showed that robust-sensitized responding was apparent regardless of the sequence in which cocaine and the novel environment (the presumptive CS) were presented. Varying the time between CS and US presentation (0, 3, or 6 h) was also without effect. Results from experiment 3 showed that single or multiple electroconvulsive shock treatments did not alter the expression of the sensitized response. Therefore, these data indicated that one-trial behavioral sensitization of preweanling rats was exclusively mediated by nonassociative mechanisms and that associative processes did not modulate sensitized responding. These findings are in contrast to what is observed during adulthood, as adult rats exhibit one-trial behavioral sensitization only when associative processes are operative.
authors: Department of Psychology, California State University, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA. smcdouga@csusb.edu
authors: Sanders A
authors: SA
authors: McDougall
authors: Alexandria G
authors: AG
authors: Pothier
authors: Taleen
authors: T
authors: Der-Ghazarian
authors: Matthew S
authors: MS
authors: Herbert
authors: Olga O
authors: OO
authors: Kozanian
authors: Kevin A
authors: KA
authors: Castellanos
authors: Ana T
authors: AT
authors: Flores
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D059333:Central Nervous System Sensitization / Q000502:physiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D004597:Electroshock / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D009043:Motor Activity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003042:Cocaine