TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential effects of 5-HT 2A and 5-HT 2C receptor blockade on strategy-switching
AU - Baker, Phillip M.
AU - Thompson, Jennifer L.
AU - Sweeney, John A.
AU - Ragozzino, Michael E.
PY - 2011/5/16
Y1 - 2011/5/16
N2 - Recent experiments indicate that blockade of serotonin (5-HT) 2A and 2C receptors have differential effects on reversal learning. The present experiments investigated the effects of the 5-HT 2A receptor antagonist, ketanserin and 5-HT 2C receptor antagonist, SB242084 on acquisition and strategy-switching in a visual cue-response paradigm. Long-Evans rats were trained in a cross-maze to enter an arm based on color (visual cue version) or a specific turn response (response version). Systemic treatment with ketanserin did not affect initial learning of a visual cue or response discrimination, but ketanserin at 0.5mg/kg significantly enhanced a switch between visual cue and response strategies. Ketanserin facilitated strategy-switching by inhibiting responses to a previously relevant strategy without affecting choices to never-reinforced strategies. Treatment with SB242084 (0.5, 1.0 or 2.0mg/kg) did not affect acquisition of a visual cue or response discrimination. SB242084 treatment also did not affect strategy-switching. The present findings suggest that blockade of 5-HT 2A, but not 5-HT 2C, receptors enhance strategy switching.
AB - Recent experiments indicate that blockade of serotonin (5-HT) 2A and 2C receptors have differential effects on reversal learning. The present experiments investigated the effects of the 5-HT 2A receptor antagonist, ketanserin and 5-HT 2C receptor antagonist, SB242084 on acquisition and strategy-switching in a visual cue-response paradigm. Long-Evans rats were trained in a cross-maze to enter an arm based on color (visual cue version) or a specific turn response (response version). Systemic treatment with ketanserin did not affect initial learning of a visual cue or response discrimination, but ketanserin at 0.5mg/kg significantly enhanced a switch between visual cue and response strategies. Ketanserin facilitated strategy-switching by inhibiting responses to a previously relevant strategy without affecting choices to never-reinforced strategies. Treatment with SB242084 (0.5, 1.0 or 2.0mg/kg) did not affect acquisition of a visual cue or response discrimination. SB242084 treatment also did not affect strategy-switching. The present findings suggest that blockade of 5-HT 2A, but not 5-HT 2C, receptors enhance strategy switching.
KW - Cognitive flexibility
KW - Ketanserin
KW - Learning
KW - Rat
KW - Serotonin
KW - Strategy-switching
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78751644632&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78751644632&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.12.031
DO - 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.12.031
M3 - Article
C2 - 21232556
AN - SCOPUS:78751644632
SN - 0166-4328
VL - 219
SP - 123
EP - 131
JO - Behavioural Brain Research
JF - Behavioural Brain Research
IS - 1
ER -