Dopaminergic synapses mediate neuronal changes in an analogue of operant conditioning.

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Nargeot R, Baxter DA, Patterson GW, Byrne JH

Dopaminergic synapses mediate neuronal changes in an analogue of operant conditioning.

J Neurophysiol. 1999 Apr;81(4):1983-7.

PubMed ID

10200235 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Feeding behavior in Aplysia can be modified by operant conditioning in which contingent reinforcement is conveyed by the esophageal nerve (E n.). A neuronal analogue of this conditioning in the isolated buccal ganglia was developed by using stimulation of E n. as an analogue of contingent reinforcement. Previous studies indicated that E n. may release dopamine. We used a dopamine antagonist (methylergonovine) to investigate whether dopamine mediated the enhancement of motor patterns in the analogue of operant conditioning. Methylergonovine blocked synaptic connections from the reinforcement pathway and the contingent-dependent enhancement of the reinforced pattern. These results suggest that dopamine mediates at least part of the neuronal modifications induced by contingent reinforcement.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Methylergometrine	Dopamine D1 receptor	Protein	Humans	Yes	Antagonist	Details