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The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning

Pickens, Laura Renee Glass
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247022810

Abstract Details

2009, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences.
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.
Stephen Fountain, PhD (Advisor)
David Riccio, PhD (Committee Member)
Dan Neal, PhD (Committee Member)
57 p.
Psychology
adolescent nicotine exposure; serial pattern learning

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pickens, L. R. G. (2009). The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247022810

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pickens, Laura. The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning. 2009. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247022810.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pickens, Laura. "The Effects of Adolescent Nicotine Exposure on Adult Rat Serial Pattern Learning." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247022810

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1247022810
435
© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.