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Effects of morphine on a quickly learned conditioned suppression in rats

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Abstract

Rats placed in a test chamber, where they had received repetitive shocks the previous day, strongly reduced their motor activity. This was taken as an indication of a conditioned emotional response (CER).

Morphine attenuates this quickly learned conditioned suppression in a dose related manner and the effect does not appear to be a consequence of an influence upon performance, a change in the general stimulus situation or a drug-induced amnesia. It is believed that the action of morphine was due to a reduction of anxiety associated with anticipation of noxious stimuli.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bologna, Italy

    M. Babbini, M. Gaiardi & M. Bartoletti

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  1. M. Babbini
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  2. M. Gaiardi
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  3. M. Bartoletti
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Babbini, M., Gaiardi, M. & Bartoletti, M. Effects of morphine on a quickly learned conditioned suppression in rats. Psychopharmacologia 33, 329–332 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437509

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437509

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