Rogers and Kensers (2003)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate the role of the neurotransmitter acytlcholine in the enocoding of spatial memories

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

The researchers first aclimated 30 rats to a maze, once the rats were no longer scarred and familiar with the maze the experiment had begun. The rats were randomly allocated to 2 conditions, one where they were injected with placebo, and the other where they were injected with scopapolamine a inhibitor which binds to the receptors of acytlcholine and inhbiting any response. The rats were then ran through the maze. The enocoding of memory was measured by comparing the mean number of errors made on the first 5 trials on day 1 to the last 5 trials of day 2. Whilst the retrival of these memories were measured by comparing the mean errors made in the last 5 trials of day 1 with the first 5 trials of day 2.

Question 3

Results

Answer 3

The results indicate that the group with the scopapolamine made considerable more errors compared to the group with the placebo. However there was no apparent difference in the retrieval of memories. Thiis study provides evidence that the neurotransmitter acytlchololine may play an important role in the encoding of spatial memories.