Abstract
Using classical conditioning procedures, the cardiac conditioned response (CCR) was established by pairing one of two tones with the delivery of a peripheral electric shock in Rhesus monkeys. The other tone had no terminal consequence. Such a procedure results in an anticipatory ‘anxiety’ or ‘fear’ response to the impending shock signalled by the reinforced tone. The heart rate before the tone in two of the animals was characterized by tachycardia and by bradycardia in the other animal. The effect of intravenous Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was compared to various doses of diazepam, chlorpromazine, and morphine. The results indicate that THC blocks the CCR in a dose-related manner. The effects of THC were similar to diazepam, an anti-anxiety drug. Chlorpromazine and morphine affected the conditioned response in an unreliable manner, and both drugs would attenuate the response in some cases and potentiate it in other instances.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abel, E. L.: Changes in anxiety feelings following marijuana smoking. Brit. J. Addict. 66, 185–187 (1971)
Church, R. M., Black, A. H.: Latency of the conditioned heart rate as a function of the CS-UCS interval. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 51, 478–482 (1958)
Deane, G. E.: Cardiac conditioning in the albino rabbit using 3 CS-UCS intervals. Psychonom. Sci. 3, 119–120 (1965)
Deneau, G., Yanagita, T., Seevers, M.: Self-administration of drugs by monkeys. Bull. Drug Addict. Narcot. 11, 3812 (1964)
Fenimore, D. C., Loy, P. R.: Injectable dispersion of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in saline using polyvinylpyrrilidone. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 23, 310 (1971)
Fitzgerald, R. D., Vardaris, R. M., Brown, J. S.: Classical conditioning of heart rate deceleration in the rat with continuous and partial reinforcement. Psychonom. Sci. 6, 437–438 (1966)
Gantt, W. H.: Cardiovascular component of the conditional reflex to pain, food, and other stimuli. Physiol. Rev. 40, 266–291 (1960)
Goodman, L. S., Gilman, A.: The pharmacological basis of therapeutics. New York: McMillan 1970
Harris, R. T., Waters, W., McLendon, D. M.: Behavioral effects in rhesus monkeys of repeated intravenous doses of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 26, 297–306 (1972)
Hidalgo, J., Tarleton, W. A., Dileo, R. J., Thompson, C. R.: Effect of drugs on the cardiac conditioned response of dogs. Behav. Res. Ther. 6, 461–471 (1968)
Isbell, H., Gorodetzsky, C. W., Jasinski, D., Clausen, V., Spulak, F., Korte, F.: Effects of (-)Δ-9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol in man. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 11, 184 (1967)
Lacey, J. I., Smith, R. L.: Conditioning and generalization of unconscious anxiety. Science 120, 1045–1052 (1954)
Marihuana: A signal of misunderstanding. 1st report of the National Commission of Marihuana and Drug Abuse. Washington, D.C.: Government Priting Office 1972
Pillard, R. C., McNair, D. M., Fisher, S.: Does marijuana enhance experimentally induced anxiety? Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 40, 205–210 (1974)
Schoenfeld, W. N.: An experimental approach to anxiety, escape, and avoidance behavior. In: Anxiety, P. H. Hoch and J. Zubin, eds., pp. 70–97. New York: Grune and Stratton 1950
Smith, O. A., Stebbins, W. C.: Conditioned blood flow and heart rate in monkeys. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 59, 432–436 (1965)
Tart, C. T.: Marjuana intoxication, common experiences. Nature (Lond.) 226, 701–704 (1970)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McLendon, D.M., Harris, R.T. & Maule, W.F. Suppression of the cardiac conditioned response by Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol: A comparison with other drugs. Psychopharmacology 50, 159–163 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00430486
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00430486