Anticholinesterase Action and Electroconvulsive Shock-Induced Disruption of Taste-Illness Association

Author

Terry J. DeBriere, Kansas State College

Date of Award

6-1973

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

Electroconvulsive shock (ECS) interpolated temporally between the pairing of a novel taste and an induced gustatory illness prevents the taste from being associated with the illness (Kral, 1971). Physostigmine has been shown to protect against retrograde amnesic effects of ECS on learning of a passive avoidance task (Davis, Thomas, and Adams, 1971). Physostigmine protection of ECS induced disruption of a conditioned taste aversion was investigated using a 2 (physostigmine vs. saline) x 2 (ECS vs. sham shock) x 2 (conditioned vs. nonconditioned) x 2 (conditioning day vs. test day) factorial design with repeated measures over the last factor. Results indicated physostigmine pretreatment to be ineffective in protecting against ECS disruption of the taste-illness association. However, physostigmine pretreatment alone, interfered with the formation of the conditioned taste aversion. The results implicated the involvement of the cholinergic system in association formation but did not indicate physostigmine as being effective in the amelioration of ECS disruption of learning.

Comments

v, 36 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. Bibliography: leaves 25-27.

Recommended Citation

DeBriere, Terry J., "Anticholinesterase Action and Electroconvulsive Shock-Induced Disruption of Taste-Illness Association" (1973). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 5.
https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/etd/5