[Arousal and the psychopharmacology of anxiety in experimental models].
Locomotion is a behavioural marker of arousal in animals whereas exploration serves as a reliable criterion for anxiety level. Traditional views of central excitatory mechanisms consider them as pro-arousal and anxiogenic. Central inhibitory mechanisms are thought to be sedative and anxiolytic. However, data exist on paradoxical anti-anxiety effects of low doses of certain anxiolytics in a number of experimental models. Likewise, anxiolytics might exert paradoxical pro-arousal/anxiogenic profiles in animals. Both such data are difficult to interpret within traditional framework of arousal/anxiety concepts. The paper reviews data on complex non-linear interrelationships between anxiety and arousal and supports a theory of putative "anxiolytic" (comfort or pleasurable) emotions evoked by mild, but not high, arousal.
Kaluev
A V
AV
Centre for Physiology and Biochemical Research, Kiev, Ukraine.
Nutsa
N A
NA
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011600:Psychopharmacology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents
Arousal i psikhofarmakologiia trevozhnosti v éksperimental'nykh modeliakh.