Abstract
Four rats were trained to barpress for water reinforcement under a variable interval 60 sec schedule. Nine acute administrations of (−)δ 9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol, in amounts ranging from 0.25 to 16.0 mg/kg, produced dose-related effects on responding; overall response rate increased at lower doses, while higher doses produced ataxia and a complete suppression of responding. Increased response rates reflected changes both in response spacing and in the lengths of post-reinforcement pauses. It was concluded that marihuana has a biphasic effect on variable interval water-reinforced behavior in rats.
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The authors thank Reid Vandell for his assistance in collecting the data. Research supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH20363-01 to D. P. Ferraro. Synthetic δ 9-THC obtained by approval of the FDA-NIMH Psychotomimetic Agents Advisory Committee. The animals involved in this study were maintained in accordance with “ Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care” as published by the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council.
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Grisham, M.G., Ferraro, D.P. Biphasic effects of δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on variable interval schedule performance in rats. Psychopharmacologia 27, 163–169 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00439375
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00439375