Paracetamol (Par) treatment appears to recover POCD in the DNMTS. Results at 48 h test-point showed: (A) MA rats exposed to anaesthetic only or which underwent surgery (MA + Surgery Model) treated with Buprenorphine at 0.05 mg/kg, i.p. or 0.1 mg/kg, i.p. were impaired in the DNMTS task compared to MA controls. In contrast, MA animals treated with Par-75 mg/kg, s.c. or Par-150 mg/kg, s.c. were not impaired in the task compared to MA controls; (B) Examination of the Bup groups compared to control groups across delay length showed that surgery model groups treated with Bup-0.05 mg/kg or Bup-0.1 mg/kg were impaired at 6–10 s, 11–15 s, 16–20 s and 26–30 s time bins; (C) Examination of the Par groups compared to control groups across delay length showed that surgery model groups treated with Par-75 mg/kg or Par-150 mg/kg did not have any delay-induced impairment. Results at 72 h test-point showed: (D) No differences were observed between groups; (E) and (F) No group differences were observed following examination of performance across different delay lengths. Results at Day 7 test-point showed: (G) MA animals which underwent the surgery model treated with Bup-0.1 mg/kg were significantly impaired compared to MA Controls. Par treatment (75 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg) to surgery model animals prevented long lasting cognitive impairments; (H) MA + Surgery Model groups treated with Bup (0.05 mg/kg or 0.1 mg/kg) were impaired at delay time lengths 11–15 s to 21–25 s compared to MA control; (I) MA + Surgery Model group treated with Par-75 mg/kg were impaired at delay lengths 1–5 s and 16–20 s compared to MA control. Histograms represent Total % Correct response (the mean group performance across all delay lengths in the DNMTS task ± SEM), n = 5–11 per group. DNMTS trials were sorted by performance according to length of delay on individual trials and were grouped according to 5-s intervals (1–5, 6–10, 11–15, 16–20, 21–25, and 26–30) represented by line graphs (mean ± SEM). Two-way ANOVA followed by Fisher’s LSD analysis **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05 vs. MA control; ##p < 0.01 vs. MA + Surgery Model (Par-150 mg/kg) group.