"Conflict" situation based on intracranial self-stimulation behavior and the effect of benzodiazepines.
Based on lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation behavior of the rat in a Skinner box, a "conflict" situation was established by combining foot shock punishment with brain stimulation. Diazepam (10-20 mg/kg, PO) caused a marked increase in the lever pressing response in the punished period without affecting the unpunished response. Bromazepam (10--20 mg/kg PO) also caused an increase in the lever pressing response in the punished period and a decrease of the punished response. These results indicate that a "conflict" situation based on self-stimulation behavior is useful for the evaluation of antianxiety action.
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001960:Bromazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004597:Electroshock; D007031:Hypothalamus; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003975:Diazepam; D001960:Bromazepam