The effect of diazepam on a conditioned emotional response in the rat.
Benzodiazepines have been shown to stimulate appetite and to affect behaviour in experimental situations that are viewed as providing a model of anxiety. However, the "anti-anxiety" effect is normally demonstrated in situations that use food to motivate behaviour. In the present research, the effect of diazepam was tested on the suppression of drinking brought about by a tone that had been previously paired with shock. Diazepam produced a marked decrease in the amount of time it took the animal to resume drinking, thus providing support for the anti-anxiety effect. Both acute and chronic modes of administration were effective, but the effect was even more clear-cut with chronic administration.
D000818:Animals; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*
D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003975:Diazepam