| Abstract: | Studied spatial localization in the Morris water maze. 30 male Long-Evans hooded rats were required to escape from cool water by finding a submerged, invisible platform located at a fixed place. The start point randomly varied, and there were no local cues. After training, the platform was moved. Six Ss subjected to central cholinergic receptor blockade with atropine sulfate were compared with normal Ss and with 6 Ss receiving peripheral cholinergic blockade with atropine methylnitrate. The controls were a group of blind Ss and Ss for which the platform was moved from trial to trial. Results show that controls and the atropine methylnitrate Ss used a spatial mapping strategy to locate the platform. The atropine sulfate-treated Ss adopted a search strategy like that of the blind Ss and Ss for which the platform was randomly moved. Results support the idea that central cholinergic systems are important for spatial mapping, which demands the use of distal visual cues. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
