title: Stimulant drug effects on touchscreen automated paired-associates learning (PAL) in rats.
abstract: Here we tested in rats effects of the procognitive drugs modafinil and methylphenidate on post-acquisition performance in an object-location paired-associates learning (PAL) task. Modafinil (32; 64 mg/kg) was without effect, while higher (9 mg/kg) but not lower (4.5 mg/kg) doses of methylphenidate impaired PAL performance. Likewise, higher but not lower doses of amphetamine (0.4; 0.8 mg/kg) and MK-801 (0.08; 0.12 mg/kg) decreased PAL performance. Impaired PAL performance induced by methylphenidate, amphetamine, and MK801 most likely reflects compromised cognitive function, e.g., retrieval of learned paired associates. Our data suggest that stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate and modafinil might not facilitate performance in hippocampus-related cognitive tasks.
authors.affiliation: Department Animal Physiology, University of Stuttgart, D-70550 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roschlau
authors.affiliation: Department Animal Physiology, University of Stuttgart, D-70550 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Angeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Votteler
authors.affiliation: Department Animal Physiology, University of Stuttgart, D-70550 Stuttgart, Germany hauber@bio.uni-stuttgart.de.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hauber
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077408:Modafinil; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents; D008774:Methylphenidate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D000661:Amphetamine; D000077408:Modafinil