The amnesic effects of protein kinase inhibitors (H-7, HA-156, TFP, W-
9, and W-13) on memory formation for a one trial peck-avoidance task i
n chicks were investigated with bilateral and unilateral injections in
to either the left or the right intermediate medial hyperstriatum vent
rale (IMHV) or the left or right lobus parolfactorius (LPO). All five
inhibitors injected bilaterally 5 min pretraining into either the IMHV
or LPO or unilaterally into the left IMHV produced amnesia. Unilatera
l injections into the right IMHV did not produce amnesia. Unilateral i
njections of W-9 or W-13 into the left but not the right LPO produced
amnesia. H-7, HA-156, or TFP did not produce amnesia when injected uni
laterally into either the left or right LPO. The time of onset of amne
sia produced by injecting TFP and W-13 into the LPO occurred 45 min af
ter training, whereas H-7 produced amnesia significantly later (90 min
after training). Amnesia induced by TFP, W-13, and H-7 injected into
the LPO occurred significantly later than amnesia produced when these
agents were injected into the IMHV. Together these data suggest that t
he IMHV and LPO process memory sequentially using various protein kina
se activities.