EFFECTS OF BENZODIAZEPINES AND SEROTONERGIC MANIPULATIONS ON PUNISHED RESPONDING

Animals were trained on a three-component multiple schedule comprising variable interval reward, time out and conflict (reward plus punishment). Following training, dose response-functions of a number of psychoactive compounds were studied particularly with respect to their actions on the two low rate behaviours. Thus, during time out no specific effects were observed following morphine, amino-oxyacetic acid, caffeine or para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), although amphetamine, chlordiazepoxide (CDP) and diazepam (DZP) produced dose dependent changes in lever pressing rate. During conflict, however, significant attenuation of suppressed responding was only observed following administration of the benzodiazepines (CDP and DZP) and PCPA. These increases with CDP and DZP were quantitatively larger than those observed during time out. These results suggest that the benzodiazepines have specific effects on behavioural processes involved in punishment and that these actions are mediated by changes in 5-HT functional activity. © 1979.