[Learning behavior in rats after chronic haloperidol treatment]

The effect of 3 week chronic haloperidol treatment has been investigated in rats by retention of active avoidance (pole jumping). In the period of dopaminergic supersensitivity, i.e. after withdrawal of haloperidol, pretreated rats showed a better retention of the learned reaction than controls. The results demonstrate that the neuroleptic-induced supersensitivity enhanced not only the spontaneous and stimulated locomotor activity, but also improved the retention of an active avoidance reaction.