Introduction of new indices into continuous avoidance test--a trial to detect the effects of sodium chloride and...

A personal computer was introduced in conditioned lever-press avoidance experiment in Sidman situation. Experimental data were analyzed with both classic indices such as response rate and shock rate and new indices introduced in this experiment. New indices include sum of squares of shock-shock intervals, mean of shock-response time and number of shock-response time less then 5 sec. Results obtained in diazepam-treated mice were consistent with those reported previously by the classic method. In mannitol-treated mice, significant changes of the avoidance behavior could be detected by both the classic index and our new indices. By the new indices other than classic indices, the effect of administration with sodium chloride on the avoidance behavior could be detected, whereas the classic indices could not detect the effect. Though the meanings of these indices i physiological and toxicological aspects should be appreciated in future study, the experimental system reported in this paper might be applicable in the toxicological research to detect the effect of administration with various substances on the avoidance behavior.