Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir6.2

Title: Low-threshold N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function correlates negatively with learning.

Authors: P M Bradley, B D Burns, A C Webb

Journal, date & volume: Brain Res., 2001 May 4 , 900, 38-47

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11325344

Abstract
The intermediate, medial hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV) is an area of the forebrain of the domestic chick which exhibits great plasticity. Moreover, there is a strong link between plasticity in the IMHV and specific changes in behaviour. The IMHV in vitro is still plastic, and many of its physiological properties are age-dependent, peaking in slices taken from 3- or 4-day-old birds. This 'window' coincides with an important transitional period in a chick's normal behavioural development. It has also been claimed that reversal training is at its most effective in 3- and 4-day-old birds - a proposition which was confirmed by the experiments reported here. A combination of in vivo training followed by in vitro electrophysiology also revealed that the function of low-threshold N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (one of the age-related variables) is negatively related to the effectiveness of reversal training, when age is held constant.