Martinez and Kesner (1991)

Seite 1

AIM:

- determine the role of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine on memory.

METHODS:

- Rats were trained to go through a maze and get to the end where they received food

- After rats were able to do this, he injected:

1st group - scopolamine, which blocks acetylcholine receptor sites.

2nd group - physostigmine, blocks production of cholinesterase (does 'clean-up' of acetylcholine from synapse and returns neuron to its 'resting state')

3rd group - control (no injections)

RESULTS:

- scopolamine - slower at finding way around maze and made more errors than control/physostigmine group.

- physostigmine - ran faster compared to both groups and made fewer wrong turns.

CONCLUSION:

- Acetylcholine played an important role in creating memory

- Overall, it can be seen that neurotransmitters do affect human behaviour in a variety of ways.