Effect of Magnesium Pemoline on the Aversive Threshold to Shock in the Rat

Abstract

The effect of magnesium pemoline on pain thresholds in 52 rats was tested via the jump-flinch technique in groups receiving 0, 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg of the drug. No significant differences were found between groups in the number of jumps or the specific mean intensity at which the first jump was displayed over 4 series of 17 different shock intensities. The findings were interpreted as refuting the hypothesis that superior performance of drug-treated Ss in avoidance situations is due to a sensitization effect to electric shock brought about by drug action.