Abstract
On the basis of the visual conditional discrimination paradigm, a procedure has been developed that forces rats to retrieve propositional rules from reference memory (e.g., flashing light, go left; constant light, go right). Using operant boxes, rats were trained to perform a conditional visual (successive) discrimination task (go/go) on an FR10 schedule of reinforcement. During the first trial of a day’s test session, incorrect responding did not result in the termination of the trial. The ratio between correct and incorrect leverpresses until completion of the FR10 at the correct lever on this first trial was considered a measure of the rat’s ability to retrieve the correct rule. During the subsequent trials of a test session, incorrect responses led to the termination of the trial. Behavioral measures from this stage of a day’s session were considered as an indication of behavioral performance. Scopolamine (0.1, 0.39, or 1.56 mg/kg) did not affect retrieval but impaired all measures of performance. Chlordiazepoxide (3.0, 5.0, or 10.0 mg/kg) similarly spared retrieval abilities but disrupted performance at the highest dose. Baclofen (1.56, 3.13, or 4.69 mg/kg) nonspecifically disrupted responding at the highest dose. Amphetamine (0.3, 0.56, or 1.0 mg/kg) generally reduced the number of correct responses. Thus, none of these treatments specifically interfered with the retrieval of information about well-learned stimulus-response rules. It is hypothesized that the retrieval of these rules is comparable with the automatic and implicit reactivation of nondeclarative information in humans, or even with priming. Furthermore, it seems likely that this process shows multiple neuronal representations and, therefore, remains widely insensitive to manipulations in individual neurotransmitter systems.
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This research was funded in part by grants from the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, Ohio State University (No. 221184), the Cognitive Science Center, Ohio State University, and the Ohio State Department of Aging (No. 723079)
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Sarter, M. Retrieval of well-learned propositional rules: Insensitive to changes in activity of individual neurotransmitter systems?. Psychobiology 18, 451–459 (1990). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333093
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333093