The effect of diazepam on a conditioned emotional response in the rat

Benzodiazepines have been shown to stimulate appetite and to affect behaviour in experimental situations that are viewed as providing a model of anxiety. However, the "anti-anxiety" effect is normally demonstrated in situations that use food to motivate behaviour. In the present research, the effect of diazepam was tested on the suppression of drinking brought about by a tone that had been previously paired with shock. Diazepam produced a marked decrease in the amount of time it took the animal to resume drinking, thus providing support for the anti-anxiety effect. Both acute and chronic modes of administration were effective, but the effect was even more clear-cut with chronic administration.