The effects of controlled subanaesthetic concentrations of enflurane on learning behaviour and on ability to change previously developed decision strategies were studied in 10 male volunteers, using a probability learning task. Subjects were instructed to predict on each of 200 consecutive trials, whether a left or a right light would appear. The appearance of lights was pre-determined by a set relative frequency unknown to the subject. The relative frequency was automatically changed at the end of the first 100 trials, from 8/10 lights in the left side to 4/10. It was found that enflurane at subanaesthetic concentration of 0.25% (end-tidal) slowed the rate of learning, and increased the number of trials required for readjusting the prediction strategy to the changed situation.
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