Dissociations Between the Effects of LSD on Behavior and Raphe Unit Activity in Freely Moving Cats
Michael E. Trulson, Barry L. Jacobs
Science August 3, 1979 DOI: 10.1126/science.451617 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Freely moving cats |
| Intervention | d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) |
| Topics | LSD Serotonin |
| Keywords | Cats Raphe nuclei Dorsal raphe nucleus Hallucinogen Pharmacology |
| Citations | 44 |
| Key findings | LSD's behavioral effects in cats did not always align with the suppression of raphe neuron activity, showing dissociations at low doses, in duration, and during tolerance. |
Abstract
The hypothesis that the action of hallucinogenic drugs is mediated by a depression of the activity of brain serotonergic (raphe) neurons was tested by examining the behavioral effects of d -lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) while studying the activity of raphe neurons in freely moving cats. Although the results provide general support for the hypothesis, there were several important dissociations. (i) Low doses of LSD produced only small decreases in raphe unit activity but significant behavioral changes; (ii) LSD-induced behavioral changes outlasted the depression of raphe unit activity; and (iii) raphe neurons were at least as responsive to LSD during tolerance as they were in the nontolerant condition.