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Drug-induced conditioned suppression: specificity due to drug employed as UCS.

O G Cameron, J B Appel

Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior February 1976 DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(76)90020-4 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Controlled experimental study in animals Peer reviewed
Population Rats
Interventions Psilocybin LSD Methyl atropine nitrate Pentobarbital
Dose Psilocybin 2.0 mg/kg; LSD 0.13 mg/kg; methyl atropine nitrate 50 mg/kg; pentobarbital 25 mg/kg
Key findings Conditioned suppression of bar-pressing to a light paired with a drug was clearly demonstrated with psilocybin (2.0 mg/kg), suggested but not clearly shown with LSD (0.13 mg/kg), and not evident with methyl atropine nitrate (50 mg/kg) or pentobarbital (25 mg/kg). The authors argue that drug-induced conditioned suppression is not a nonspecific effect of unconditioned suppression but depends on the type of drug employed.

Abstract

The classical conditioning potential of several drugs was tested in rats by pairing a light CS with the drug UCSs; these stimuli were superimposed in a variable-interval 30 sec schedule for water reinforcement. Conditioning (suppression of bar-pressing in the presence of the CS) was definitely demonstrated with psilocybin (2.0 mg/kg), was suggested but not clearly shown with LSD (0.13 MG/kg), and was not evident with methyl atropine nitrate (50 mg/kg) or pentobarbital (25 mg/kg). These results indicate that previously demonstrated drug-induced conditioned suppression is not a nonspecific effect of unconditioned suppression but depends on the type of drug employed.