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Interactive effects of diazepam and ethanol on baboon match-to-sample performance
S L Dalterio1, M J Wayner, I Geller
1Division of Life Sciences, University of Texas, San Antonio 78285.
Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.)
|November 1, 1988
Summary
Diazepam and ethanol both increase response times in baboons performing a match-to-sample task. Combined, these substances show additive effects on response times, impacting cognitive performance.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- The match-to-sample (MTS) task is a standard method for assessing cognitive functions like attention and memory.
- Diazepam (a benzodiazepine) and ethanol are common psychoactive substances with known effects on the central nervous system.
- Understanding drug interactions is crucial for predicting behavioral outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of diazepam (DZ) and ethanol (EtOH) on MTS performance in juvenile male baboons.
- To determine if combined administration of DZ and EtOH produces synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects on response times.
Main Methods:
- Four juvenile male baboons were trained on a MTS discrimination task.
- Administered varying doses of diazepam (0.25-6.0 mg/kg) and ethanol (0.5-1.0 g/kg) individually and in combination.
- Measured changes in mean response times (MRT) compared to baseline performance.
Main Results:
- Diazepam significantly increased MRT, with maximal effects at 2.0 mg/kg.
- Ethanol at 1.0 g/kg significantly increased MRT, while 0.5 g/kg had no effect.
- Combined treatment of 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg EtOH with 1.0 mg/kg DZ resulted in significant MRT increases comparable to DZ alone.
Conclusions:
- Both diazepam and ethanol impair performance on the MTS task by increasing response times.
- Low doses of ethanol (0.5 g/kg) did not significantly affect MTS performance alone but, when combined with 1.0 mg/kg diazepam, showed effects similar to diazepam alone.
- The combination of ethanol and diazepam appears to have additive or synergistic effects on response latency in this task.
