Glutamate and specific perceptual input interact to cause retarded learning in chicks
1980; Elsevier BV; Volume: 24; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0031-9384(80)90243-7
ISSN1873-507X
AutoresR. Sdraulig, Lesley J. Rogers, A.L.A. Boura,
Tópico(s)Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
ResumoIntracranial glutamate administered to newly hatched chickens has previously been demonstrated to cause permanent deficits in visual learning. A study was therefore undertaken to determine whether this effect was in any way related to the visual input occurring concomitantly. It was found that for slowed visual learning to be induced the chick needed to see intersecting lines, angles or circles for 3 hr after glutamate administration on the second day of life. Stationary or moving parallel lines were not effective. Slowed visual learning appeared to result from an interaction between glutamate and the neural activity resulting from exposure to patterned input and not the processes required for learning about the patterns. These results are discussed in context of the neurophysiology of the visual system. It is proposed that glutamate causes slowed visual learning by interfering with early forebrain development of higher visual areas which results from precise and specific changes in neural connectivity occurring in response to perceptual input. Experiments utilizing ouabain indicated that the action of glutamate was predominantly extracellular. Glutamate may affect neural interconnections as a consequence of its putative neurotransmitter actions.
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