Role for animal research in the investigation of human mental retardation.

Animal models of the cognitive deficiency states of mental retardation per se are underutilized. A general learning impairment model and a reasoning/insight model, both in rats, were reviewed for parallels to theories of human cognitive deficiency. Predictions were made for the relevance to human mental retardation. Although the parallel development of human mental deficiency research and animal cognition research has precluded substantial benefits at this time, a wider reading of the animal literature by human mental retardation researchers would benefit both animal cognition research and human mental retardation research.