[Effect of etimizol on instrumental learning in rats]

The action of etimizol on the acquisition of the conditioned reflexes with different complexity and biological significance of reinforcement was studied. The acquisition was performed in a shuttle box and U-shaped maze using food and footshock stimuli. The time interval between administration of etimizol (3 mg/kg) and the onset of learning varied between 0.5 and 3 h in the several series. Etimizol did not facilitate the learning in rats whatever the time of administration and biological modality of reinforcement. It is suggested that the positive effect of etimizol on the memory is related to its influence on the consolidation stage.