title: Characterisation of learning and memory deficits following NMDA receptor antagonism.
abstract: The effects of the non-competitive NMDA antagonist dizocilpine in tests of cognitive function have been compared with its effects on motor function in rats. Severe motor impairments were observed at doses above 0.1 mg/kg. Dizocilpine (0.075 mg/kg) had no effect on the acquisition of a spatial discrimination task in a Y-maze, but disrupted reversal learning. Both the acquisition and reversal of a visual discrimination task were impaired following dizocilpine (0.075 mg/kg). Dizocilpine (0.04 mg/kg) also disrupted performance of a fivechoice visual reaction time task. It is clear that dizocilpine can impair cognitive function at doses which do not induce pronounced motor dysfunction. The impairment induced by dizocilpine includes a disruption of spatial discrimination learning and a deficit in tasks with sustained attentional demands.
authors.affiliation: Astra Neuroscience Research Unit, 1 Wakefield Street, WC1N 1PJ, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Snape