Premium
Flumazenil (Ro 15‐1788) enhances learning in both negatively and positively reinforced tasks
Author(s) -
RaffalliSebille Marie J.,
Chapouthier Georges
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
drug development research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.582
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1098-2299
pISSN - 0272-4391
DOI - 10.1002/ddr.430230206
Subject(s) - flumazenil , reinforcement , antagonist , psychology , reinforcement learning , neuroscience , benzodiazepine , electroconvulsive shock , shock (circulatory) , pharmacology , receptor , chemistry , endocrinology , medicine , social psychology , computer science , artificial intelligence
Flumazenil (Ro 15‐1788) is classically described as a benzodiazepine‐receptor (BZ‐R) antagonist, devoid of any intrinsic effect and thus used to selectively block the effects of others BZ‐R ligands. The present report provides evidence that flumazenil enhances learning in a multiple‐trial brightness discrimination task in mice, whether the reinforcement is negative (electric foot‐shock) or positive (food reward). However, in contrast to the negative reinforcement, we obtained a significant effect with the positive reinforcement only after a delay of a few days. The type of reinforcement might be involved in this delay necessary to observe enhanced learning. These results are discussed.