title: An automatic device for measuring speed of movement and time spent at rest: its application to testing dopaminergic drugs.
abstract: We describe a device to measure speed of movement and time at rest for use with a commercially available infrared photobeam activity monitor. This system is a reliable substitute for a human observer and provides additional measures of activity that can help in interpreting how psychoactive drugs alter behavior. The effects of graded doses of d-amphetamine, haloperidol and (-)3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine, (-)-3-PPP, were studied with the device, and the results confirmed that these drugs differentially alter speed of movement and time at rest.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010880:Piperidines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; C026539:preclamol; D006220:Haloperidol; D003913:Dextroamphetamine