Summary
The effects of d-amphetamine (0.25 to 8.0 mg/kg) were studied on key-pecking behavior under variable interval (high response rate) and DRL reinforcement (low response rate) in pigeons. Doses of 2.0 mg/kg and above progressively decreased VI responding, as was the case for DRL with doses 4.0 mg/kg and above. No consistent increases in response output on either reinforcement schedule were observed with any dose of the drug, even though prior studies have suggested that amphetamine ought to increase DRL behavior. When their behavior was reduced by d-amphetamine, DRL birds often earned many more grain reinforcements than usual, but frequently did not consume them. No effects of d-amphetamine were observed on a color discrimination tested in the VI birds.
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We acknowledge the advice of Dr. William B. Morse and Dr. Evalyn Segal, and the expert technical assistance of Peter Gorinsky. This research was performed at the Dept. Pharmacology, Royal College of Surgeons of England and was supported in part by a Public Health Service Special Fellowship (No. MH 25608) to the first author from the National Institute of Mental Health and by NIMH Grant-Number MH-06635 to the Royal College of Surgeons.
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Hearst, E., Vane, J.R. Some effects of d-amphetamine on the behavior of pigeons under intermittent reinforcement. Psychopharmacologia 12, 58–67 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402755
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402755