Cognitive impairment induced by ethanol has been found to be greater in adolescence than in adulthood in learning tasks involving aversive conditioning and spatial abilities (Land & Spear, 2004a; Markiwiese et al., 1998). On the other hand, detrimental effects of ethanol on appetitive conditioning were greater in adult rats than among adolescents (Land & Spear, 2004b). In general terms, adolescent rats are less sensitive than mature animals to a wide array of ethanol’s effects; these effects include ethanol-induced motor impairment, narcosis, sedation and social inhibition (Little et al., 1996; Spear & Varlinskaya, 2005). This phenomenon may relate to an increased propensity of the adolescent rat for developing acute tolerance to ethanol (Silveri & Spear, 2004). Given that the sedative and motor impairing effects of ethanol are thought to limit intake of the drug, these age-specific predispositions in terms of ethanol sensitivity and tolerance may put adolescents at risk for ethanol-related problems.
