Prolonged isolation and alcohol effect on avoidance learning in two strains of mice.

Prolonged isolation in mice is known to induce several behavioral changes, among which impairment of learning was also reported. On the other hand, alcohol is known to have either stimulant or depressant effects on behavior. Further, alcohol effect is also known to depend on strain-linked characteristics and on emotional ground of animals. Since prolonged isolation may differently change the emotional setting of mice, according to the strain, the behavioral effects of alcohol on avoidance learning, have been studied in two strains of male mice differentially housed. Evidences were obtained that ethanol can either improve or worsen learning performances according to the strain and the housing conditions adopted.