Effects of Post-Trial Injections of Scopolamine and Eserine on Acquisition of a Simultaneous Brightness Discrimination

Abstract
4 groups of rats were given injections of scopolamine, methylscopolamine, eserine or saline immediately following the completion of an acquisition trial on a brightness discrimination in a T-maze. Results indicated that eserine and scopolamine groups displayed little or no reduction in errors over 50 acquisition trials, while Ss treated with methylscopolamine or saline showed a marked reduction in errors over the last 15 trials. While the data can be interpreted in terms of a consolidation model of memory, a progressive increase in failures to eat on rewarded trials by groups receiving the centrally active drugs, indicates that side effects of these drugs probably played a role in learning impairments.