Enhanced procedural learning following beta-amyloid protein (1-42) infusion in the rat

Wistar rats receiving intracerebroventricular infusion of the beta-amyloid protein (Abeta 1-42) or of the inactive fragment (Abeta 42-1) were subjected to the cross-maze task. According to the standard protocol, rats were released from the south arm and trained to collect food at the end of the east arm. After a 5-day training period, they were given a probe trial during which they were released from the north arm and allowed to choose either the east arm (place learning) or the west arm (response learning). Control rats showed predominant place learning whereas all rats receiving Abeta (1-42) showed response learning. These data indicate that exposure to Abeta 1-42 does not only impair cognitive responding but elicits strong procedural (motor-based) responding