HOLEBOARD PERFORMANCE OF RATS AFTER HIPPOCAMPAL-LESIONS AND TREATMENTWITH NIMODIPINE

Rats were taught to select eight holes in a 4 x 4 hole-board for food reinforcements. Upon reaching criterion, they were given subtotal lesi ons of the anterior hippocampus or sham operations. They then received either the calcium channel blocker, nimodipine, or vehicle alone. Ret ention testing revealed a significant main effect of lesion and eviden ce for nimodipine reducing this effect. These data are consistent with previous findings from this laboratory in which it was demonstrated t hat nimodipine can enhance performance on higher cognitive tasks after hippocampal damage. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.