Abstract
Results indicate successful attempts to induce modification of behaviour by intravenous injection of brain extract from trained rats into naive recipients. Experimental recipients exhibited higher performances as compared with appropriate controls in testing sessions continuously reinforced by a drop of water in a Skinner box. The observed effect may be correlated with reinforcement contingencies received by the donor animal; however, further work is required to determine whether the phenomenon is situationally specific. Under the conditions used the optimum dosage to produce the effect is equivalent to 40% of a brain. Results also indicate that dose and route of injection are conditions that must be carefully controlled in behaviour induction experiments.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Babich, F. R., Jacobson, A. L., Bubash, S., Jacobson, A.: Transfer of a response to naive rats by injection of ribonucleic acid extracted from trained rats. Science 149, 656–657 (1965)
Bonnie, F.: Interanimal “Memory” Transfer: Results from brain and liver homogenates. Science 169, 399–402 (1970)
Byrne, W. L., Samuel, D., Benett, E. L., Rosenzweig, M. R., Wasserman, E., Wagner, A. R., Gardner, F., Galambos, R., Berger, B. D., Margules, D. L., Fenichel, R. L., Stein, L., Corson, J. A., Enesco, H. E., Chorover, S. L., Holt III, C. E., Schiller, P. H., Chiappetta, L., Jarvik, M. E., Leaf, R. C., Dutcher, J. D., Carlson, P. L.: Memory transfer. Science 153, 658 (1966)
Dyal, J. A., Golub, A. M., Marrone, R. L.: Transfer effects of intraperitoneal injection of brain homogenates. Nature (Lond.) 214, 720–721 (1967)
Dyal, J. A., Golub, A. M.: Behavioural transfer via injection of brain homogenates: activation or specificity? In: Molecular approaches to learning and memory, W. Byrne (ed.). New York: Academic Press 1970
Fjerdingstad, E. J., Nissen, Th., Roigaard-Petersen, H. H.: Effect of ribonucleic acid (RNA) from the brain of trained animals on learning in rats. Scand. J. Psychol. 6, 1 (1965)
Gay, R., Raphelson, A.: “Transfer of Learning” by injection of brain RNA: a replication. Psychonom. Sci. 8, 369 (1967)
Goldstein, A., Sheehan, P., Goldstein, J.: Unsuccessful attempts to transfer morphine tolerance and passive avoidance by brain extracts. Nature (Lond.) 233, 126 (1971)
Golub, A. M., Masiarz, F. R., Villars, T., McConnell, J. V.: Incubations effects in behaviour induction in rats. Science 168, 392 (1970)
Luttges, M., Johnson, T., Buck, C., Holland, J., McGaugh, J.: An examination of “transfer of learning” by nucleic acid. Science 153, 834 (1966)
Reinis, S.: Influence of brain homogenate injection on the speed of the formation of alimentary conditioned reflex in rats. Worm Runner's Digest 8, 7–24 (1966)
Rosenblatt, F., Miller, R. G.: Behavioural assay procedures for transfer of learned behaviour by brain extracts, I, II. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 56, 1423 (1966a, 1966b)
Rosenblatt, F., Farrow, J. T., Herblin, W. F.: Transfer of conditioned responses from trained rats to untrained rats by means of a brain extract. Nature (Lond.) 209, 46 (1966)
Stewart, Walter W.: Comments on the chemistry of scotophobin. Nature (Lond.) 238, 202 (1972)
Ungar, G., Oceguera-Navarro, C.: Transfer of habituation by material extracted from brain. Nature (Lond.) 207, 301 (1965)
Ungar, G., Irwin, L. N.: Transfer of acquired information by brain extracts. Nature (Lond.) 214, 453 (1967)
Vieira, F. J. A., Rola, F. H., Oliveira, Leda M., Albuquerque, Lucia H. J., Aquino, Aderson M., Gondim, F. Atila, Weyne, M. E., Cavalcante, A. Alice, Sampaio, E., Vale, F., Regis, O.: ObservaÇÕes preliminares sobre a induÇÃo (Transferencia) Inter-Animal de Comportamento por InjeÇÃo de Extrato Cerebral, XXIV. ReuniÃo Anual da SBPC, SecÇÃo K, Julho, SÃo Paulo 1972a
Vieira, F. J. A., Rola, F. H., Weyne, M. E., Oliveira, Leda M., Gondim, F. Atila, Cavalcante, A. Alice, Sampaio, E., Albuquerque, Lucia H. J., MourÃo, L. A.: Castelo Branco, InduÇÃo (Transferencia) de Comportamento Instrumental no Rato pela InjeÇÃo de Extrato Cerebral, XXIV ReuniÃo Anual da SBPC, SecÇÃo K, Julho, SÃo Paulo 1972b
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Fellow from CAPES (Brasil) in a partial fulfillment for DsC degree.
Fellow from CNPq (Brasil).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vieira, F.J.A., Weyne, M.E., Oliveira, L.M. et al. Induction (transfer) of an operant behaviour by injection of brain extract. Psychopharmacologia 33, 339–348 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437511
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437511