title: Effect of diazepam on successive negative contrast in one-way avoidance learning.
abstract: The effect of administration of diazepam on successive negative contrast in one-way avoidance learning was examined in rats. Contrast was induced by shifting rats from a large reward, 30 s spent in the safe compartment, to a small reward, 1 s spent in the safe compartment. IP administration of 2 mg/kg diazepam eliminated this negative contrast. Moreover, this effect is dose dependent, with doses of 2 and 2.5 mg/kg, but not 0.5 mg/kg, effective in reliably reducing contrast. These results suggest the existence of similar or common underlying mechanisms in both aversive and appetitive contrast effects; they are discussed in light of the current theories of frustrative nonreward and as a mean of studying the behavioral and biological mechanisms of anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicología Experimental y Fisiología del Comportamiento, Universidad de Granada, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Megias
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Candido
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maldonado
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
chemical_list: D003975:Diazepam