Effects of diazepam on behaviour suppressed by extinction in pigs

Diazepam injected to pigs previously trained to perform an operant response for food according to a continuous reinforcement schedule significantly increased resistance to extinction compared to control pigs. In pigs submitted to a time-out procedure diazepam increased the number of nonreinforced responses at the beginning of the acquisition but was unable to disinhibit suppressed behaviour in the later stages of acquisition when the extinguished behaviour was well acquired. The results are discussed with respect to antiaversive or disinhibitory effects of benzodiazepines and an alternative interpretation, the strengthening of the prevailing behavioural tendency in the animal's repertoire at the time of test, is put forward.