In this study, three lines of evidence suggest a role for [alpha][subscript 2]-adrenoreceptors in rat pup odor-preference learning: olfactory bulb infusions of the [alpha][subscript 2]-antagonist, yohimbine, prevents learning; the [alpha][subscript 2]-agonist, clonidine, paired with odor, induces learning; and subthreshold clonidine paired with…

The immediate early gene (IEG) "Arc" is known to play an important role in synaptic plasticity; its protein is locally translated in the dendrites where it has been involved in several types of plasticity mechanisms. Because of its tight coupling with neuronal activity, "Arc" has been widely used as a tool to tag behaviorally activated networks.…

The evidence for a role of the striatum in the acquisition of uncued instrumental responding is ambiguous. It has been shown that post-session infusions of anisomycin into the core of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) impaired instrumental acquisition, but pre-training lesions of the NAcc suggest that it is not necessary. Recently, we demonstrated that…

The present study examined the influence of pharmacological modulations of the locus coeruleus noradrenergic system on odor recognition in the mouse. Mice exposed to a nonrewarded olfactory stimulation (training) were able to memorize this odor and to discriminate it from a new odor in a recall test performed 15 min later. At longer delays (30 or…

Lesions of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) have long been associated with abnormalities of taste-related behaviors and with failure in a variety of taste- and odor-related learning paradigms, including taste-potentiated odor aversion, conditioned taste preference, and conditioned taste aversion. Still, the general role of the amygdala in…

Results show that the ability to identify the odor of alcoholic beverages and know the norms for use of alcoholic beverages exists among preschool children. Findings also show that at least some aspects of that ability are enhanced by living in a family whose drinking pattern indicates heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. (RH)

Found that the greater the frequency of marijuana use the higher the scores on creativity and adventuresomeness and the lower the scores on authoritarianism. Males were more frequent users than females; Jews more frequent users than Protestants or Catholics. Internal sensation novelty seeking correlated with frequency of marijuana use. (Author)

Methadone clients scored higher than controls on measures reflecting boredom, desire for change and attraction to physically thrilling activities. Correlations of these measures with length of most recent dependency before treatment, time on program, and time since initial dependency suggest peculiarities of methadone clients antedated involvement…

Determined what kinds of experience seeking are related to drug use using Pearson's Novelty-Experiencing Scale, Pearson's Desire-for-Novelty Scale, and Vando's Reducer-Augmenter Scale. Drug use was most frequent among men attracted to unusual states of consciousness and physically thrilling activities. They were stimulus-intensity reducers, and…

Information storage in the brain is a temporally graded process involving different memory phases as well as different structures in the mammalian brain. Cortical plasticity seems to be essential to store stable long-term memories, although little information is available at the moment regarding molecular and cellular events supporting memory…

Studied the use of the drug coca paste by high school students in Los Angeles. Of 11th- and 12th-grade males (N=228), four claimed to have recently used coca paste, and of (N=460) females, five reported using the drug. Also studied comparative usage with other substances, and attitudes. (Author/RC)