title: Antagonism of caffeine-facilitated conflict-induced behavior by depressants in cats.
abstract: Cats trained in 4-6 weeks to obtain a reward (food pellet) were made 'neurotic' by a randomly occurring air blast at the reward box. Previous studies have shown that d-amphetamine facilitates development of 'neurotic' (conflict-induced) behavior. Caffeine, another stimulant, was examined to determine how it affects positive reinforcement behavior, induction of 'neurosis' and its interaction with depressants. Caffeine, given orally, induced stereotyped behavior, facilitated development of the 'neurotic' behavior and disrupted the feeding cycle. Chlorpromazine, pentobarbital, diazepam, prazepam and fluazepam delayed the onset of the caffeine-facilitated conflict behavior. Phenobarbital antagonized the caffeine effect. Studies of conflict-induced behavior in the cat appear to be useful for the investigation of drug interactions and for the detection of side effects of drugs that are not ordinarily considered to have effects on the central nervous system.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D002415:Cats; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D002110:Caffeine