Abstract
IT has been shown that the lateral hypothalamus is involved in the feeding response and also in the rewarding reaction to certain stimuli1. This suggests that amphetamine, an anorexic agent, should depress the self-stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus. Several investigators' using the variable interval as a reinforcement schedule, have, however, reported that the amphetamines, at relatively small doses, had facilitating effects—that is, they caused an increase in response and a lowering of the threshold2. In contrast to these observations, the present study shows that methamphetamine, in appropriate doses which depress food and water intake, decreased the rate of response and elevated the threshold for self-stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Margules, D. L., and Olds, J., Science, 135, 374 (1962).
Stein, L., and Ray, O. S., Psychopharmacologia, 1, 251 (1960); Stein, L., and Seifter, J., Science, 134, 286 (1961); Horovitz, Z. P., Chow, M. I., and Carlton, P. L., Psychopharmacologia, 3, 455 (1962).
Umemoto, M., and Kido, H., Jap. Psychol. Res., 9, 14 (1967).
Carlsson, A., Fuxe, K., Hamberger, B., and Lindqvist, M., Acta Physiol. Scand., 67, 481 (1966); Hansson, L. C. F., Psychopharmacologia, 10, 289 (1967).
Dews, P. B., and Morse, W. H., Ann. Rev. Pharmacol., 1, 145 (1961).
Sidman, M., Science, 122, 925 (1955); Brady, J. V., Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 64, 632 (1956); Dews, P. B., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap., 122, 137 (1958); Teitelbaum, P., and Derks, P., J. Comp. Physiol. Pyschol., 51, 801 (1958).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
UMEMOTO, M., KIDO, R. Depressing Effect of Methamphetamine on Self-stimulation in the Cat. Nature 216, 1333–1334 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2161333a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2161333a0
- Springer Nature Limited