| The purpose of the present study is to identify a rapid eye movement (REM) sleep window (RSW) for the eight-arm win-shift radial arm maze (RAM) task. The RSW is defined as a period of time, after training, during which REM sleep is necessary for efficient learning of a task. RSWs have been previously identified for other tanks such as the win-stay RAM task, the two-way shuttle avoidance task and the Morris water maze (MWM). In our first experiment, we trained groups of rats over a 15 day period on the win-shift RAM task. After daily training, groups of rats were subsequently deprived of REM sleep using the flowerpot technique or were returned to their cages to serve as controls. Groups were deprived of REM sleep during separate 4 hour intervals such that the entire 24 hour time period after training was covered. Results of the first experiment suggested that the RSW for the win-shift task was 0-4 hours post-training. In our second experiment, we examined the effects of scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist, when administered during and outside of the RSW. Results of the second experiment indicated that scopolamine had no significant effect on learning of the win-shift task. Thus, our data indicates the presence of a RSW; however, we were not able to recreate this phenomenon through chemical means. |
