Barbiturate-induced dissociation of acquisition and extinction: Role of movement-initiating processes.

Abstract

The lack of transfer of 2 learning effects, acquisition and extinction, between phenobarbital-induced state and normal, nondrug, state were studied in an escape-from-shock response in Exp. 1 and in an immobility or "freezing" response in Exp. 2. 6 groups of 6 rats each were used in each experiment. Acquisition effects transferred in the immobility response but not in the escape response; extinction effects transferred in the escape response but not in the immobility response. Since both the extinction of immobility and the acquisition of escape require movement, these instances of dissociation may be said to involve an impairment of the processes concerned with the initiation of movement. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)