Arousal as an explanation for differences in rats selectively bred for differential alcohol sensitivity.
A common error made by behavior genetics researchers is breeding two lines for differences in central arousal rather than for a specific behavioral feature. Two lines of rats (Riley, Freed, & Lester, 1976) were selectively bred for locomotor impairment in response to a subhypnotic dose (1.5 g/kg) of ethanol. These lines (designated "most affected" and "least affected") were compared in a variety of tests and showed differences in a number of phenotypic traits in addition to locomotor impairment to ethanol. The published findings have been interpreted in light of a hypothesis suggesting adventitiously selected differences in central arousal between the two lines. This interpretation showed that their usefulness as animal models of alcoholism is seriously compromised.
Department of Psychology, Northeastern State University.
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D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001947:Breeding; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000502:physiology*; D012107:Research Design
D000431:Ethanol