Deficits in retention and impairments in learning induced by severe hypothermia in mice.

Abstract

Journal abstract Effects of whole-body immersion hypothermia on retention and learning were tested in mice. In Experiment 1, 1-trial passive avoidance was followed by hypothermia at intervals of .5, 5, or 20 min. A test trial 24 hr. later found short-term retention deficits in mice cooled to 2° C. following training-immersion intervals of .5 or 5 min. In Experiment 2, hypothermia to 2° C. by immersion for 15 or 30 min. was followed by training trials or retention trials on a simple black-white discrimination. Immersion for 15 min. had a transitory effect on acquisition, but acquisition and long-term retention were impaired in groups cooled for 30 min. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)