The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning
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Kent State University / OhioLINK
2009
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247022810 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-kent12470228102021-08-03T05:36:49Z The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning Pickens, Laura Renee Glass Psychology adolescent nicotine exposure serial pattern learning The broad aim of the present study was to assess long-term effects of adolescent nicotine exposure on adult cognitive function in rats. To this end, a serial pattern learning paradigm was used to assess learning and memory function in adulthood. Specifically, Experiment 1 sought to replicate the findings of Fountain, Rowan, Kelley, Willey, & Nolley (2008) and also better assess the nature and permanence of the observed learning impairments of Fountain et al. (2008) by using a more challenging behavioral test (a “violation pattern”) and following learning to asymptotic levels. Experiment 1 also sought to assess learning impairments under what is emerging as a more widely used adolescent nicotine exposure regimen based on osmotic pumps rather than daily injections. It examined whether nicotine delivered in this manner during adolescence would produce cognitive deficits like those seen after daily injections in Fountain et al. (2008). Results of Experiment 1 showed that rats exposed to nicotine during adolescence using the osmotic pump method did not show any significant differences in overall acquisition of the pattern compared to saline controls at any element type, and a trial-by-trial analysis on the last day of acquisition (Day 49) indicated that adolescent nicotine exposure did not interfere with acquisition of within-chunk, chunk boundary and violation elements. These results are inconsistent with the results of Fountain et al. (2008). Further research in this area should investigate the importance of the exposure method, drug dose, exposure period, stress during the exposure period, and the adult training experience. The purpose of Experiment 2 was to assess the importance of phrasing cues for the acquisition of a sequential pattern in adulthood, particularly for rats that have been exposed to nicotine during adolescence. The results indicated that sham control rats produced a significantly higher number of errors at the within-chunk elements of Chunk 1 (SP2 and SP3) and at the violation element (SP24) on Day 50 when phrasing cues were removed compared to performance on the day before when phrasing cues were still present. From these results of Experiment 2 it is clear that the role and function of phrasing cues in adult learning and cognitive capacity (regardless of pharmacological manipulation) deserve further scrutiny. Collectively, the results of both of the current experiments indicate that the effects of adolescent nicotine exposure on adult learning and cognitive capacity deserve further investigation. 2009-07-09 English text Kent State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247022810 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247022810 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
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NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Psychology adolescent nicotine exposure serial pattern learning |
| spellingShingle |
Psychology adolescent nicotine exposure serial pattern learning Pickens, Laura Renee Glass The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning |
| author |
Pickens, Laura Renee Glass |
| author_facet |
Pickens, Laura Renee Glass |
| author_sort |
Pickens, Laura Renee Glass |
| title |
The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning |
| title_short |
The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning |
| title_full |
The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning |
| title_fullStr |
The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning |
| title_sort |
effects of adolescent nicotine exposure on adult rat serial pattern learning |
| publisher |
Kent State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2009 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247022810 |
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AT pickenslaurareneeglass theeffectsofadolescentnicotineexposureonadultratserialpatternlearning AT pickenslaurareneeglass effectsofadolescentnicotineexposureonadultratserialpatternlearning |
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