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Effects of d-amphetamine and cocaine on repeated acquisition with timeout from avoidance
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|November 1, 1978
Summary
Both d-amphetamine and cocaine disrupted repeated acquisition in rats, increasing errors and altering learning patterns. These stimulants affected sequence completion and shock delivery rates differently in the animals studied.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
- Animal behavior
Background:
- Repeated acquisition paradigms assess learning and memory.
- Stimulants like d-amphetamine and cocaine are known to affect cognitive functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acute effects of d-amphetamine and cocaine on a repeated acquisition task.
- To examine how these drugs alter learning, errors, and response patterns in rats.
Main Methods:
- Two rats were trained on a repeated acquisition baseline involving three-member response sequences.
- A timeout from avoidance contingency was implemented after correct sequence completion.
- Acute administration of d-amphetamine and cocaine was compared to control sessions.
Main Results:
- Both d-amphetamine and cocaine increased errors during sequence acquisition compared to baseline.
- Stimulant administration altered the pattern of within-session learning.
- d-Amphetamine increased sequence completion and shock rates in both rats; cocaine had variable effects on sequence completion but increased shock rates in one rat.
Conclusions:
- Acute administration of d-amphetamine and cocaine disrupts performance on a repeated acquisition task with timeout from avoidance.
- These drugs differentially affect learning, response sequencing, and aversive consequence avoidance in rats.