Skip to main content
Log in

A simple and reliable conflict procedure for testing anti-anxiety agents

  • Original Investigations
  • Animal Studies
  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of three benzodiazepines (chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, and oxazepam), meprobamate, pentobarbital, d-amphetamine sulfate, magnesium pemoline, and scopolamine hydrobromide were studied with a simple conflict procedure in which thirsty naive rats were periodically administered shocks for licking water. The results indicated that this simple procedure clearly demonstrated “anti-anxiety” (i.e., increases in punished responding) effects with benzodiazepines, meprobamate and pentobarbital. Doses of d-amphetamine sulfate, magnesium pemoline, and scopolamine hydrobromide did not increase responding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carlton, P. L.: Cholinergic mechanisms in the control of behavior by the brain. Psychol. Rev. 70, 19–39 (1963).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collier, G. H., Bolles, R.: Some determinants of the intake of sucrose solutions. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 65, 379–383 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geller, I.: Use of approach avoidance (conflict) for evaluating depressant drugs. In: J. H. Nodine and J. H. Moger (Eds.): Psychosomatic Medicine, pp. 267–281. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Kulak, J. T., Seifter, J.: The effects of chlordiazepoxide and chlorpromazine on a punishment discrimination. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 3, 374–385 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Seifter, J.: The effects of meprobamate, barbiturates, d-amphetamine, and promazine on experimentally induced conflict in the rat. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 1, 482–492 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, H. M., Stone, C. A.: Animal techniques for evaluating anti-anxiety drugs. In: J. H. Nodine and P. E. Siegler: Animal and clinical pharmacologic techniques in drug Evaluation, pp. 317–324. Chicago: Yearbook Medical Publishers 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, H. F.: Some effects of meprobamate on conditioned fear and emotional behavior. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 67, 712–723 (1957).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leaf, R. C., Muller, S. A.: Effects of shock intensity, deprivation, and morphine in a simple approach-avoidance conflict situation. Psychol. Rep. 17, 819–823 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, N. E.: Some recent studies of conflict behavior and drugs. Amer. Psychologist 16, 12–24 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vogel, J.R., Beer, B. & Clody, D.E. A simple and reliable conflict procedure for testing anti-anxiety agents. Psychopharmacologia 21, 1–7 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403989

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403989

Key-Words

Navigation