Facilitation of stimulus detection performance of rats with d-amphetamine: a function of dose and level of training |
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Authors: | D M Grilly Paul J Pistell Barbara B Simon |
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Institution: | (1) Bio-behavioral Research Laboratories, Department of Psychology, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA, US |
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Abstract: | Conditions under which amphetamine may facilitate stimulus detection task choice performance in rats were investigated. Rats
(n=15) were trained in a two-choice, light-detection task to three successively more stringent criterion levels of task training
(minimal, intermediate, and extended) and then tested after administration of saline, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 mg/kg d-amphetamine (AMP). For each training level, baseline levels of choice accuracy were maintained at approximately 82% by manipulating
the animals’ cue duration. No aspect of performance was enhanced by any dose of AMP after minimal criteria training, and there
was a dose-dependent decrease in the number of trials completed. After the intermediate level of training, the 0.25 mg/kg
dose of AMP reliably increased choice accuracy, there was no reliable change in choice reaction time, and there was a dose-dependent
decrease in the number of trials completed. After the extended training, the 0.25 mg/kg dose of AMP reliably increased choice
response accuracy, the 0.25 and 0.50 mg/kg doses of AMP reliably decreased choice reaction time, and there was no reliable
change in the number of trials completed at any dose of AMP. These results support the contention that psychostimulants can
facilitate the choice performance of rats in stimulus detection tasks if an appropriately low dose is used and the animal’s
behavior is strongly controlled by the stimulus-reinforcement contingencies of the task.
Received: 24 September 1997 / Final version: 9 May 1998 |
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Keywords: | Amphetamine Choice performance Stimulus detection Rat |
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