Influence of Changes in Adrenergic and Cholinergic Activity upon Acquisition of Operant Discrimination in Albino Rats

The effect of adrenergic and cholinergic drugs upon two discrete-trial fixed-interval reinforcement schedules that generate either high or low rates of unreinforced (SΔ) responding was investigated. Amphetamine and scopolamine decreased high SΔ rates while having no effect on low SΔ rates. Withdrawal of amphetamine after acquisition under the drug led to a dramatic increase in SΔ rates under both reinforcement schedules. Alpha methyl-p-tyrosine reduced high SΔ rates, while pilocarpine had no effect on behavior. These results suggest that the similarities between the behavioral effects of amphetamine and scopolamine on appetitive schedules may primarily reflect their motivational properties. Furthermore, these data indicate that withdrawal from chronic amphetamine administration can produce dramatic alterations in response rate even in cases where the acquisition of behavior is unaltered by chronic drug treatment.

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Behavioral Effects of Microwave Reinforcement Schedules and Variations in Microwave Intensity on Albino Rats

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1987.65.3.787 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 65 (3) ◽

pp. 787-795 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

William F. Vitulli ◽

J. Ken Lambert ◽

Stella W. Brown ◽

Joseph M. Quinn

Keyword(s):

Microwave Radiation ◽

Thermal Environment ◽

Fixed Ratio ◽

Behavioral Effects ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Ratio Schedule ◽

Albino Rats ◽

Reinforcement Schedules ◽

Continuous Reinforcement ◽

Exploratory Investigation

The objective of this exploratory investigation was to determine the interactive effects of fixed-ratio scheduling of microwave reinforcement in tandem with changes in microwave intensity. Nine albino rats were conditioned to regulate their thermal environment with microwave radiation while living in a Skinner (operant conditioning) Box in which the ambient temperature was about 27.13°F at the beginning of the session. Each rat obtained a 6-sec. exposure of microwave radiation on a fixed-ratio schedule of MW reinforcement, the values of which varied from FR-1 to FR-30. Intensities of MW radiation were 62.5 W, 125 W, 250 W, and 437.5 W. Sessions lasted for 8 to 9 hr. over an approximate 13-mo. period. The effects of the intensity of microwave reinforcement varied as a function of the ratio value of the schedule used. Continuous reinforcement (FR-1) produced the lowest over-all rates, whereas FR-15, and FR-25 produced the highest over-all rates. Relatively higher thermal-behavior rates occurred under 62.5 W than under any of the other MW intensities for FR-1, FR-15, and FR-25, whereas FR-10 and FR-30 ratios produced intermediate rates of thermal responding which were constant for all values of MW intensity. These data are explained in terms of interactive effects between the “local” satiation or deprivation properties of the MW intensity and the ratio requirements of the schedule of MW reinforcement.

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Effects of Withdrawal from Chronic Amphetamine Administration on Activity Levels of Albino Rats

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1974.35.1.307 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 307-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vincent P. Houser ◽

Dale A. Van Hart

Keyword(s):

Activity Wheel ◽

Albino Rats ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Baseline Activity ◽

Amphetamine Administration ◽

Middle Range ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Elevated Activity ◽

Chronic Amphetamine ◽

Amphetamine Sulfate

18 albino rats were administered either saline or various dosages of d-amphetamine sulfate in activity wheel cages over a 13-wk. period. Food consumption was decreased under the 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 mg/kg dosages, while water consumption was reduced only under the highest dose. Motor activity was elevated under 1.0 mg/kg and was depressed under 8.0 mg/kg, while no reliable effects were noted under the middle range of doses. Withdrawal from 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg of amphetamine led to significant elevations in baseline activity. These changes in activity could not be readily explained in terms of a simple conditioning process. It was suggested that amphetamine may produce long lasting changes in the central nervous system which are reflected in elevated activity when the drug is withdrawn.

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Behavioral effects of serotonergic and dopaminergic drugs in cats following chronic amphetamine administration

European Journal of Pharmacology ◽

10.1016/0014-2999(84)90138-9 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 99 (4) ◽

pp. 313-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Michael E. Trulson ◽

Terriann Crisp

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Effects ◽

Dopaminergic Drugs ◽

Amphetamine Administration ◽

Chronic Amphetamine

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Effects of chronic amphetamine administration on behavior and monoamine metabolism in cats

Function and Regulation of Monoamine Enzymes: Basic and Clinical Aspects ◽

10.1007/978-1-349-06276-8_42 ◽

1981 ◽

pp. 387-397

Author(s):

Michael E Trulson ◽

Barry L Jacobs

Keyword(s):

Monoamine Metabolism ◽

Amphetamine Administration ◽

Chronic Amphetamine

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Brain locations controlling the behavioral effects of chronic amphetamine intoxication

Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1007/bf00433812 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 93-101 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Robert Hitzemann ◽

Jerwin Wu ◽

Dennis Hom ◽

Horace Loh

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Effects ◽

Chronic Amphetamine

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Effects of Quality and Quantity of Reinforcement Upon Response Rate in Acquisition and Extinction

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1966.18.3.819 ◽

1966 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 819-829 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Robert W. Schaeffer ◽

Barbara Hanna

Keyword(s):

Experimental Design ◽

Response Rate ◽

Albino Rats ◽

Sucrose Content ◽

Sprague Dawley ◽

Acquisition Session ◽

Repeated Acquisition ◽

Lever Pressing ◽

Quality Of Reinforcement

This experiment investigated the effects of quality and quantity of reinforcement upon a lever-pressing response, within the context of repeated acquisition and extinction sessions. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley albino rats were subjected to a 2-by-3 experimental design which incorporated two levels of quality of reinforcement (8% and 32% sucrose pellets) and three levels of quantity of reinforcement (20, 40, or 80 pellets given in each acquisition session). Rate of responding during each acquisition session varied directly with sucrose content of the pellet, but was independent of number of reinforcements (pellets) received in each acquisition session. In extinction, total number of responses varied directly with both number of reinforcements and sucrose content of the pellet. Latency to the first lever-pressing response in both acquisition and extinction was found to be heterogeneous for all Ss and insensitive to variations in quantity and quality of reinforcement.

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