Skip to main content
Log in

Self administration of minor tranquilizers as a function of conditioning

  • Short Communications
  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

An attempt was made to develop pronlonged preferences in rats for quinine, LSD, nicotinic acid, meprobamate and chlordiazepoxide. It was found that forced ingestions of the drugs had no enduring effects on subsequent free choice preference intakes. When the animals were conditioned to drink the drugs in order to obtain food pellets, it was found that they developed increased preferences for meprobamate and chlordiazepoxide which endured over a 21 day free choice period. The results are interpreted as showing that through pairing with food several of the drugs acquired secondary reinforcing properties which were responsible for their sustained drinking by the animals.

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.

References

  • Deneau, G. A., T. Yanagita, and M. H. Seevers: Psychogenic dependence to a variety of drugs in the monkey. Pharmacologist 6, 182 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferster, C. B., and B. F. Skinner: Schedules of reinforcement. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, J. R., C. P. Headlee, and H. W. Coppock: Drug Addiction I. Addiction by escape training. J. Amer. pharm. Ass., sci. Ed. 45, 788–791.

  • Randall, L. O., Wm. Schallek, A. Geo Heise, F. Eaden Kieth, and Bobby E. Bagdon: J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 129, 163–171 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weeks, J. R.: Self-maintained morphine “Addiction” — a method for Chronic programed intravenous injections in unrestrained rats. Fed. Proc. 20, 397 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wikler, A.: On the nature of addiction and habituation. Brit. J. Addict. 57, 73–79 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Harris, R.T., Claghorn, J.L. & Schoolar, J.C. Self administration of minor tranquilizers as a function of conditioning. Psychopharmacologia 13, 81–88 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401621

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401621

Key-Words

Navigation