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SOME EFFECTS OF METHYLPHENIDATE ON STIMULUS CONTROL OF RATIO AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR IN THE RAT 1
Author(s) -
Stretch Roger,
Blackman Derek,
Alexander Daphne
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
journal of the experimental analysis of behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1938-3711
pISSN - 0022-5002
DOI - 10.1901/jeab.1966.9-389
Subject(s) - methylphenidate , stimulus control , stimulus (psychology) , psychology , avoidance learning , reinforcement , neuroscience , cognitive psychology , social psychology , clinical psychology , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , nicotine
After exposure to an avoidance schedule which included a warning signal, a rat was placed on a multiple schedule in which the first component was the same as before, i.e ., a single response reset the response‐shock interval, delaying shock, and the second component differed only in that four bar‐presses were required to postpone shock. A fixed ratio requirement of four responses (FR 4) generated behavior resembling a fixed ratio requirement of one response (FR 1) since responding was controlled by the warning signal but more shocks were received. At a dosage of 2 mg/kg, methylphenidate given intraperitoneally decreased shock frequency during FR 4 periods while FR 1 behavior was not affected; at 4 mg/kg, stimulus control of avoidance responding was impaired during both components. Results at 4 mg/kg were partially confirmed by two animals exposed to an FR 4 avoidance schedule which included a warning signal but with different parameters. Response distributions showed that methylphenidate increased response rates in the absence of the warning signal, i.e ., stimulus control of ratio‐avoidance behavior was impaired although the increased response rates reduced shock frequency. One hour later responses again occurred more frequently during the signal than in its absence but shocks were less frequent than during control (non‐drug) periods.