Effects of benzodiazepines during gestation and infancy on y-maze performance of mice

Male mice which received benzodiazepine tranquilizers prenatally and during early infancy exhibited enhanced performance of a Y-maze task as adults. In general, benzodiazepine treated animals were more active and learned more rapidly than the corresponding controls. The drugs produced their greatest effect on learning measures when given prenatally, while changes in activity were greatest among those animals receiving drugs postnatally. The benzodiazepines appear to be unique in their capacity to enhance adult learning when administered at low doses during early development.