The present experiments were designed to test the effect of actinomycin D on the avoidance learning in the goldfish and to discuss the nucleic acid theory of learning and memory. Subjects were given four measuring sessions (Exp. I) and four training sessions (Exp. II & III) every other day. In all cases actinomycin D was injected intracranially.
In Exp. I, the effect of actinomycin D (2μg, 1μg, 0.5μg) on the activity was tested. The drug was injected before 30 min. of every measuring session. The number of sections traversed in the tank was used as the amount of activity. It was found that actinomycin D has no effect on the activity.
In Exp. II, the effect of actinomycin D (2μg) on the avoidance learning was tested. The effect was injected immediately after every training session. The apparatus was shuttle-box, the conditioned stimulus a light for 20 sec. and the unconditioned stimulus the electric shock of alternating current. It was found that there was a significant difference in the interaction between groups and trials. Therefore, it might suggest that actinomycin D has the inhibitory effect on the speed of the acquisition of the avoidance learning.
In Exp. III, the effect of actinomycin D injected before 30 min. of trainings and its doses (2μg, 1μg, 0. 5μg) on the avoidance learning was tested. The experimental procedure was the same as Exp. II. It was found that there may be some difference between groups and is a significant difference in the interaction between groups and trials. The results might suggest that the avoidance learning was blocked by actinomycin D injected before training and the ratio of its acquisition was depressed in accordance with its doses.
Consequently, the present experiments might suggest that d-RNA is necessary to the acquisition of the avoidance learning and might support the nucleic acid theory of learning and memory.
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