Abstract
A drug group was injected interperitoneally with 10mg/kg body weight of magnesium pemoline in tragacanth and a control group received the vehicle substance only. The animals were tested on a two-alternative forced choice brightness discrimination task and an open-field test of exploratory behavior. The drug group (1) increased exploratory behavior; (2) produced superior percentage correct discrimination performance; and (3) decreased running speed. The results indicated that the drug, besides having considerable stimulant properties, enhanced learning. Also, a previous study on magnesium pemoline and discrimination learning was reanalyzed and superior discrimination was found for the drug group.
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The authors wish to thank L. Burgess for experimental assistance and Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, for supplying Cylert 30400. The authors are very grateful to Dr. Barrett Cooper, Purdue University, for supplying the raw data of his experiment for reanalysis.
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Knox, C., Gendreau, P. The effect of magnesium pemoline on discrimination learning and exploratory behavior. Psychon Sci 19, 295–296 (1970). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03328824
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03328824