Summary
Effects of scopolamine on avoidance conditioning of naive and previously trained mice and on habituation to the to-be-conditioned stimulus was studied by using a shuttle-box avoidance technique and a light as CS. The results show that the action of the drug depends on four major phenomena:
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1.
A drug state in which learning is dissociated from learning under non drug state.
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2.
A so called “amnestic” effect which disappears once the effect of the drug is over. This effect is evident as an impairment of the performance of previously trained animals.
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3.
A photophobia due to the mydriatic effect of the drug, responsible for an enhanced sensitivity of the animals to luminous stimuli.
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A facilitatory effect of the drug on arousal regulating mechanisms in naive animals.
Nicotine exerted a facilitating effect on avoidance conditioning. The action of this cholinergic agent was not state dependent.
The effects of anticholinergic agents on conditioning and learning are interpreted in light of these findings.
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This research was supported by grants from the Italian Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and from Education and Research Foundation of the American Medical Association, Comittee for Research on Tobacco and Health.
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Oliverio, A. Effects of scopolamine on avoidance conditioning and habituation of mice. Psychopharmacologia 12, 214–226 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403775
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403775