Effect of sensory stimulation on the potency of cataleptogens

Pressures of up to 100 mm Hg applied to the mouse tail caused marked enhancement of the cataleptogenic potency of morphine, haloperidol and arecoline. Visual and auditory stimuli of moderate intensity also enhanced morphine catalepsy. Thus potentiation of cataleptogens by alteration of sensory input appears to be a fairly general phenomenon. The significance of these findings is discussed.