Dopaminergic synapses mediate neuronal changes in an analogue of operant conditioning. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Feeding behavior in Aplysia can be modified by operant conditioning in which contingent reinforcement is conveyed by the esophageal nerve (E n.). A neuronal analogue of this conditioning in the isolated buccal ganglia was developed by using stimulation of E n. as an analogue of contingent reinforcement. Previous studies indicated that E n. may release dopamine. We used a dopamine antagonist (methylergonovine) to investigate whether dopamine mediated the enhancement of motor patterns in the analogue of operant conditioning. Methylergonovine blocked synaptic connections from the reinforcement pathway and the contingent-dependent enhancement of the reinforced pattern. These results suggest that dopamine mediates at least part of the neuronal modifications induced by contingent reinforcement.

published proceedings

  • J Neurophysiol

author list (cited authors)

  • Nargeot, R., Baxter, D. A., Patterson, G. W., & Byrne, J. H.

citation count

  • 66

complete list of authors

  • Nargeot, R||Baxter, DA||Patterson, GW||Byrne, JH

publication date

  • April 1999