The effect of binge-like ethanol exposure on adolescent performance in non-spatial and spatial forms of the novel object recognition paradigm

Previous research has demonstrated that ethanol produces differential effects on non-spatial or recognition memory and spatial memory; spatial memory deficits were consistently found to be more persistent than non-spatial memory deficits. Ethanol-produced deficits have also been found to be dependent on age at exposure, and exposure during adolescence produced more persistent deficits than when exposure was experienced by older subjects.  The current study investigated the effects of a “binge-like’ 5 day episode of ethanol exposure (1.0g/kg x 5) on performance in non-spatial and spatial forms of the novel object recognition (NOR) task. Subjects were exposed either during adolescence or following maturity. Tests were conducted 2 or 9 days following exposure. NOR was tested following inter-trial intervals of 1, 3, or 5 minutes. Data from mature rats could not be obtained or analysed due to procedural issues that precluded NOR measurement. Control rats failed to demonstrate NOR at any of the time intervals. Reasons for these negative findings are discussed.