title: Effects of d-amphetamine, pentobarbital, chlorpromazine and promazine on electric shock postponement responding by the pigeon.
abstract: The effects of d-amphetamine, pentobarbital, chlorpromazine and promazine on responding under schedules of electric shock postponement were studied in pigeons. Responding was maintained by three different response-shock intervals (10, 20 and 60 seconds). Low doses (0.3-3 mg/kg) of d-amphetamine increased response rates without decreasing shock rates under all three response-shock intervals. The highest dose (10 mg/kg) of d-amphetamine increased the shock rates under all response-shock intervals and decreased the high response rate under the 10-second response-shock interval but did not decrease the lower rates of responding under the 20- and 60-second response-shock intervals. Pentobarbital decreased the high rate of responding maintained under the 10-second response-shock interval at lower dose (10 mg/kg) than the lower rates of under the 20- and 60-second response-shock intervals. The high dose (17.5 mg/kg) of pentobarbital decreased responding and the low doses (1-3 mg/kg) had no effect under all three response-shock intervals. Chlorpromazine (3-100 mg/kg) did not affect the average rate of responding under all response-shock intervals and only slightly increased shock rates under the 20- and 60-second response-shock intervals. Promazine (3-30 mg/kg) increased the rates of responding and decreased shock rates under all three response-shock intervals. Analysis of the temporal patterns of responding within the response-shock interval showed that d-amphetamine tended to induce the animals to respond earlier than they normally would in the response-shock interval while otherwise maintaining the temporal pattern of responding, pentobarbital decreased the probability of responses late in the response-shock interval, and chlorpromazine and promazine increased the probability of responses in the middle of the response-shock interval, producing a lessening of the temporal patterning of responding within the response-shock interval.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010856:Columbidae; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004597:Electroshock; D008297:Male; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011395:Promazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010424:Pentobarbital; D011395:Promazine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D002746:Chlorpromazine