Delay eyeblink classical conditioning between rats in the iron-sufficient (IS, open
symbols, A, C) and iron-deficient (ID, closed symbols, B, D)
groups as a function of alcohol dose (○● 0 g/kg, □■3.5
g/kg, △▲5 g/kg). Separately, alcohol and ID significantly affected
learning acquisition in terms of conditioned response (CR) percentage (A, B)
and amplitude (C, D) during paired training with the CS and US. Animals
exposed to the combination of 5 g/kg alcohol and ID were more significantly impaired in
acquiring CRs than ID animals exposed to the two lower alcohol doses (n =
9–11 animals per treatment group; error bars represent S.E.M.). Conversely, the
impact of 5 g/kg alcohol on learning was drastically mitigated by an iron-sufficient
diet.