Correlation between learning and alcoholization in rats

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between the processes of learning and innate behaviour and alcohol abuse in young male rats. Rats differed in the degree of alcohol motivation and had different combinations of training in maze with alcoholization. In general it was found that compared to nondependent animals, alcohol-dependent rats were characterized by much higer emotionality, anxiety, lower locomotor activity, and research activity. The most negative influence of alcohol abuse on the behaviour was shown in animals with low innate activity (locomotor, emotional, and exploratory activity), which were poorly trained in the maze. It was shown that training rats in the maze before alcohol abuse had a positive effect on the behaviour (slightly reduced the amount of alcohol-preferring animals). Alcoholization before training increased the level of anxiety and neurotic reactions in animals, especially in rats, which had poorly trained in maze before alcoholization. Alcoholization of animals before the start of training increased the level of anxiety and neurotic reactions in alcoholized rats, especially in those that were poorly trained in the maze before alcoholization.