Dopaminergic synapses mediate neuronal changes in an analogue of operant conditioning.
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Nargeot R, Baxter DA, Patterson GW, Byrne JH
Dopaminergic synapses mediate neuronal changes in an analogue of operant conditioning.
J Neurophysiol. 1999 Apr;81(4):1983-7.
- PubMed ID
- 10200235 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
Feeding behavior in Aplysia can be modified by operant conditioning in which contingent reinforcement is conveyed by the esophageal nerve (E n.). A neuronal analogue of this conditioning in the isolated buccal ganglia was developed by using stimulation of E n. as an analogue of contingent reinforcement. Previous studies indicated that E n. may release dopamine. We used a dopamine antagonist (methylergonovine) to investigate whether dopamine mediated the enhancement of motor patterns in the analogue of operant conditioning. Methylergonovine blocked synaptic connections from the reinforcement pathway and the contingent-dependent enhancement of the reinforced pattern. These results suggest that dopamine mediates at least part of the neuronal modifications induced by contingent reinforcement.
DrugBank Data that Cites this Article
- Drug Targets
Drug Target Kind Organism Pharmacological Action Actions Methylergometrine Dopamine D1 receptor Protein Humans YesAntagonistDetails