Abstract
Two experiments investigated the ability to use olfactory cues in maze-learning tasks following cadmium exposure. In Experiment 1, two groups of rats—one exposed to a cadmium-saccharin solution, one exposed just to saccharin—received double-alternation, reward(R)-nonreward(N) runway training. When only olfactory cues could be used as discriminative stimuli (Phase 1), just the saccharin-exposed animals were capable of mastering the Rrnnrrnn pattern. When a tactile discriminative stimulus was added (Phase 2), both groups of animals displayed appropriate patterned responding. Removal of the tactile cue (Phase 3) resulted in the immediate disruption of patterned responding in the cadmium-exposed animals. In Experiment 2, when a peppermint odor was used as a discriminative stimulus for T-maze performance, cadmium-exposed animals were incapable of learning the discrimination. However, when a light served as the discriminative stimulus, cadmium-exposed subjects performed as well as control subjects. These results point to potential olfactory deficits resulting from cadmium ingestion.
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Davis, S.F., Wood, K.D., Huss, M.T. et al. Odor-Mediated Performance is Affected by Cadmium Ingestion. Psychol Rec 45, 389–403 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395150
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395150