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Social behaviour of albino rats: A methodological and pharmacological approach

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Abstract

In order to test the usefulness of motivational hypothesis in the analysis of drug action on rat social behaviour, the frequency with which rats select the section of the cage in which there are other rats was evaluated in control sessions and after drug administration.

In the given experimental conditions, the decoy rats become a sufficient stimulus for the acquisition of a discriminating conditioned reflex.

Chlorpromazine (2 mg/kg) was without effect, but pentobarbital (3 mg/kg) abolished the power of the decoy rats to influence the behaviour of other rats.

For the interpretation of these results it is not necessary to postulate social motivations but it is sufficient to attribute to the decoy rats the properties of a conditioned stimulus.

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  1. Institute of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Pharmacy School, University of Turin, Italy

    L. Molinengo

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  1. L. Molinengo
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Molinengo, L. Social behaviour of albino rats: A methodological and pharmacological approach. Psychopharmacologia 28, 235–242 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429303

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429303

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