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The effect of caffeine, theophylline and amphetamine on operant responding of the mouse

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Abstract

Caffeine, theophylline and d-amphetamine were administered to three mice responding on a multiple fixed-interval (FI) 10 min, fixed-ratio (FR) 30 schedule for evaporated milk. All three drugs increased FI rates of responding at nearly the same molar dose with amphetamine being the most effective, followed by theophylline and then caffeine. While intermediate doses of amphetamine severely decreased FR rates of responding, the same dose caused large increases in FI rates of responding. With the methylxanthines, both FI and FR rates were decreased by the same high dose. It was concluded that the effects of caffeine and theophylline resemble each other and differ from amphetamine with the schedules tested. The effects of all three drugs were rate dependent.

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McKim, W.A. The effect of caffeine, theophylline and amphetamine on operant responding of the mouse. Psychopharmacology 68, 135–138 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432130

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