Dopamine receptor blockade and extinction differentially affect behavioral variability.
Dopamine (DA) neurons respond to unexpected food delivery and are inhibited during the omission of expected reward. DA receptor blockade mimics some, but not all, aspects of non-reward (extinction) conditions. It was therefore of interest to ask whether DA receptor blockade produces extinction-like increases in behavioral variability in addition to its well-known operant response-suppressing effects. In the current experiment, rats were trained drug-free on an operant task in which they pressed on a keyboard. Two of the keys led to food on a continuous reinforcement schedule. Both response rates and behavioral variability were measured. Test day administration of D(1) and D(2) antagonists SCH23390 and raclopride, like extinction, suppressed responding but, unlike extinction, did not lead to an increase in variability.
Rick
Jacqueline H
JH
Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. jacquir@bbl.med.upenn.edu
Horvitz
Jon C
JC
Balsam
Peter D
PD
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D020891:Raclopride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule
D001552:Benzazepines; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D020891:Raclopride