A differentiation in RNA response in neurons early and late during learning.

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Abstract
The amount and composition of nuclear RNA formed in cortical neurons and in vestibular neurons of the brain stem in 2 types of learning experiments have been determined. Early during transfer of handedness, the cortical neurons produced a small amount of RNA with high adenine and uracil values. Later during the learning period, but still on the rising part of the performance curve, the RNA formed increased in amount, and changed in base composition to an RNA of a ribosomal type. This differentiation in response was interpreted to reflect a genic stimulation of the neurons with an initial synthesis of adenine-uracil-rich RNA. In the phylogenetically older vestibular neurons, a highly asymmetric, adenine-rich nuclear RNA was formed in the rats which increased their performance linearly with time during learning. Some animals showed a nonlinear performance curve. The nuclear RNA formed in the neurons of these rats had a ribosomal type of base composition.