title: The D2/D3-receptor antagonist tiapride impairs concurrent but not sequential taste aversion learning.
abstract: Taste aversion learning (TAL) is a learning modality in which the animals reject a gustatory stimulus associated with the administration of noxious visceral substances. This learning can be established by concurrent or sequential procedures that involve different anatomical and functional mechanisms and may constitute distinct learning modalities. The dopaminergic system has been related to various learning processes and goal-directed behaviours. The present study examined the effect of the administration of tiapride, a D(2)/D(3) dopaminergic antagonist, on concurrent and sequential TAL. Results obtained showed that pre-treatment with tiapride blocks the acquisition of concurrent TAL but does not affect sequential TAL, including reversal learning tasks. These results demonstrate the involvement of the D(2)/D(3) dopaminergic receptors in the former but not the latter learning process. The dopaminergic system appears to participate in concurrent TAL, an "implicit" learning modality, but not in sequential TAL, which is considered a relational/explicit acquisition process.
authors.affiliation: Psychobiology, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain. cristina@ugr.es
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mediavilla
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahía
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: Amadeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puerto
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012691:Serial Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*; D013976:Tiapamil Hydrochloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors; D014868:Water Deprivation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D013976:Tiapamil Hydrochloride