title: The use of Doppler shift radar to monitor physiological and drug induced activity patterns in the rat.
abstract: Doppler shift radar was used to monitor circadian activity patterns in the rat and to study the behavioural effects of p-chloroamphetamine and d-amphetamine. Activity was classified in two ways:-(a) slow (non-locomotory) and high (locomotory) speed movements. (b) the number of starts of activity, within either the slow or high speed zones of activity during a pre-set time. p-Choloramphetamine (5 mg/kg) produced a biphasic activity response; an initial increase in continuous non-locomotory activity followed by a longer lasting increase in exploratory locomotion containing regular starts of activity. d-Amphetamine (2.5 mg/kg) produced an increase in both non-locomotory and locomotory movements but a marked reduction in starts of activity (i.e. continuous non-exploratory activity). The combination of information on the amount and pattern (starts) of activity allows a more detailed analysis of the effects of drugs on activity to be made than with existing automated methods.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004301:Doppler Effect; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011825:Radar; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D010133:p-Chloroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010133:p-Chloroamphetamine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine