Citation

Kenney JW, Wilkinson DS, Gould TJ. Behav. Pharmacol. 2010; 21(3): 246-249.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/FBP.0b013e32833a5b9d

PMID

20400893

PMCID

PMC3042125

Abstract

Activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) is known to modulate various forms of learning and memory, including contextual fear conditioning. Although numerous studies have shown that high-affinity beta2-containing nAChRs are necessary for the nicotine-induced enhancement of contextual fear conditioning, it is unknown whether other high-affinity nAChR agonists are capable of enhancing this learning. To examine this issue, ABT-418, a high-affinity nAChR agonist with greater selectivity for high-affinity receptors than nicotine, was administered before acquisition and/or recall of contextual fear memories. ABT-418 enhanced acquisition of contextual fear memories in a dose-dependent manner.

Language: en