Neurotransmitter release during delay eyeblink classical conditioning: role of norepinephrine in consolidation and effect of age.

Delay classical eyeblink conditioning (EBC) is an important model of associative, cerebellar-dependent learning. Norepinephrine (NE) plays a significant modulatory role in the acquisition of learning; however, other neurotransmitters are also involved. The goal was to determine whether NE, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (GLU) release are observed in cerebellar cortex during EBC, and whether such release was selectively associated with training.

A central role for norepinephrine in the modulation of cerebellar learning tasks.

Norepinephrine (NE) is a central nervous system neuromodulator that enhances the actions of other neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate. Based on the Marr-Albus theories, Gilbert suggested that NE influences consolidation of cerebellar learning. NE depletion or blockade of postsynaptic noradrenergic receptors decreases the rate of learning in several cerebellar-dependent learning tasks.

Cerebellar norepinephrine modulates learning of delay classical eyeblink conditioning: evidence for post-synaptic signaling via PKA.

The neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) has been shown to modulate cerebellar-dependent learning and memory. Lesions of the nucleus locus coeruleus or systemic blockade of noradrenergic receptors has been shown to delay the acquisition of several cerebellar-dependent learning tasks. To date, no studies have shown a direct involvement of cerebellar noradrenergic activity nor localized the post-synaptic response to cerebellar beta-noradrenergic receptor signaling.

Postoperative haptic training facilitates the retrieval of visual-based memories after visual cortex lesions in rats.

Two experiments examined the effects of postoperative haptic discrimination training on the relearning of a maze visual discrimination in rats with visual cortex lesions. In the first experiment, rats learned a visual intensity discrimination prior to ablation of the lateral Oc2L cortex. Lesion rats were exposed to either a rough/smooth haptic discrimination training condition, a random training condition, or a no-training condition prior to relearning the visual task.

The effects of beta-noradrenergic receptor blockade on acquisition of eyeblink conditioning in 3-month-old F344 rats.

There is evidence that blocking beta-noradrenergic receptors will cause deficits in some forms of learning. We investigated the effects of systemic injections of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg doses of propranolol on acquisition of delay eyeblink conditioning in 3-month-old Fischer 344 rats. We presented a 3-kHz, 90-dB tone as a conditioning stimulus and a 6 psi airpuff as our unconditioned stimulus to freely moving rats.