Research article summary (published 30 Dec 1979):

Effects of d-amphetamine and cocaine on strained ratio behavior in a repeated-acquisition task.

Full Abstract

Pigeons acquired a different four-response chain each session by responding sequentially on three keys in the presence of four colors. When the fixed-ratio requirement for food presentation was five completions of the chain, d-amphetamine and cocaine disrupted the behavior. As the dose of each drug was increased, the overall response rate decreased, the overall accuracy was impaired (i,e., percent errors increased), and there was less within-session error reduction (acquisition). In contrast, when the fixed-ratio requirement was either 20 or 50 completions of the chain, certain doses of both drugs produced large increases in the overall response rate by eliminating the extended pausing (ratio strain) that was characteristic of the control sessions. These rate-increasing effects were accompanied by error-decreasing effects, both during acquisition and after the response chain had been acquired. Taken together, the results show that the effects of d-amphetamine and cocaine on behavior in a repeated-acquisition task can be modulated by manipulating the value of the fixed-ratio schedule maintaining the behavior.

Author information

Author/s: Thompson, D M (DM); Moerschbaecher, J M (JM);

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior (J Exp Anal Behav), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1980-Jan; vol 33 (issue 1) : pp 141-8

Dates: Created 1980/06/16; Completed 1980/06/16; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 7365401, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Cocaine - pharmacology Color Perception - drug effects Columbidae Dextroamphetamine - pharmacology

Discrimination Learning - drug effects Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Male Reinforcement Schedule Serial Learning - drug effects

Associated Chemicals: Cocaine (50-36-2) ; Dextroamphetamine (51-64-9)

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