Abstract
In a free-choice test, rats display a tendency to interact more with a novel object than a familiar object. In the present report, we assessed the role of the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems in the expression of this novelty detection. Rats were injected with a dopaminergic antagonist (sulpiride, U-99194A, clozapine, or L-745,870) or a cholinergic antagonist (mecamylamine or scopolamine) prior to the free-choice novel-object test. The dopamine antagonists did not block novel-object detection. In contrast, scopolamine, but not mecamylamine, reliably blocked the expression of novelty detection, indicating a role for muscarinic receptors.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 211-217 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Behavioural Brain Research |
Volume | 126 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 29 2001 |
Keywords
- Clozapine
- Mecamylamine
- Novelty seeking
- Object recognition
- Scopolamine
- Sulpiride
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Behavioral Neuroscience