Adrenergic Drugs and Conditioned Fear.
Abstract
The study investigated the effects of two adreneric agents, an adrenergic stimulant (d-amphetamine sulfate, 2.0 mg/kg) and a depleting agent (alpha methyl-p-tyrosine, aMPT, 150 mg/kg), upon conditioned suppression generated by two separate procedures. UnUnder the first procedure (conditioned emotional response - CER paradigm) a 1-minute tone followed by an unavoidable shock was superimposed upon a bar-pressing task under the control of a variable interval food reinforcement schedule. In the second procedure (punishment paradigm) during the 1-minute tone every bar-press response made by the animal was followed by a brief shock. Under no-drug conditions both procedures led to a suppression of the bar-pressing behavior during the 1-minute tone periods. Both drugs caused a 50% reduction in overall response rate. Neither drug, however, reliably altered the degree of conditioned suppression in either the CER or the punishment paradigm. It seemed likely that the reduction in bar-press rate in response to amphetamine administration was due to its anorexic qualities. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0746243
Entities
People
- Vincent P. Houser