An inhalational behavioral chamber

An inhalational (flow-through) behavioral chamber has been designed and prepared in order to facilitate recording of the behavioral performance of a small experimental animal (e.g., rat and mouse) while the subject is being exposed to an inhalant (vapor or gas). The animal can be clearly viewed during behavioral performance inside the chamber, which consists of a cylindrical glass jar. The apparatus is made up of easily available materials (e.g., glass, metal, Teflon, etc.) that are not affected by usual industrial solvents. At the present stage of its development, three types of behavioral schedules can be performed within the chamber: schedules involving brain stimulation (e.g., self-stimulation, avoidance of aversive stimulations); liquid-reinforced schedules (e.g., fixed ratio, fixed interval, variable ratio, variable interval, differential reinforcement of low rates); shock avoidance (classical or continuous). The schedules can be microcomputer assisted. The device is suitable for study of behavioral pharmacology and toxicology of inhalants.