Amphetamine and apomorphine induced stereotyped behavior in adult pigeons

Induced pecking by apomorphine has been reported in the past in pigeons. Research has supported the view that its mechanisms are, at least in part, dopaminergic in nature. This study tested the ability of amphetamine to induce stereotyped pecking. Amphetamine was found effective within a narrow dose range, displaying a relatively low potency for stereotyped pecking and high toxicity compared with apomorphine. The latter drug produced appreciable pecking rates that were proportional to dose over a wide range. The description of other stereotyped responses of the head and mouth, including swallowing, mandibulating and head shaking, which are produced by both of these drugs, supports the idea that common neural mechanisms are involved. It was suggested that the qualitative and quantitative measures afforded by pecking and non-pecking stereotyped behavior in the pigeon make this a useful animal model for the study of the mechanisms of stereotyped behavior.