An examination of the effects of stimulant and depressant drugs on escape/avoidance conditioning in strains of rats selectively bred for emotionality/non-emotionality: Intertrial activity

It is suggested that intertrial activity, which is highly correlated with escape/avoidance conditionability, may be enhanced or reduced by central and autonomic nervous system drugs. Furthermore, it is claimed that these drugs produce their effects in entirely different ways.

By employing animals which differed constitutionally in their levels of reactivity, and drugs which were assumed to act differentially upon the mechanisms underlying fear and activation, a systematic examination of these views has been possible. It is shown that a complex interaction exists between the level of emotionality, drugs, and dosage. Some of the parameters of this interaction are outlined and discussed.