Male albino rats were tested for drug effects on open-field exploration, with either distilled water or drug in a repeated-measures design. Caffeine (40 mg/kg) enhanced ambulation and rearing, especially during the late minutes of Session 2, about 90 min. after injection. Nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) did not increase ambulation and rearing except during Mins. 4 to 6 of Session 2; nicotine showed only a marginal biphasic effect. These results suggest that caffeine reduced the decrement in performance across time. Perhaps caffeine reduces fatigue or increases novelty-seeking responses. A full range of doses should be studied.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychological Assn.Ethical principles of psychologists. American Psychologist, 1981, 36, 633–638.
2.
BakerW. J.TheologusG. C.Effects of caffeine on visual monitoring. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1972, 56, 422–427.
3.
BättigK.DriscollP.SchlatterJ.UsterH. J.Effects of nicotine on the exploratory locomotor patterns of female Roman high- and low-avoidance rats. Journal of Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 1976, 4, 435–439.
4.
BronsteinP. M.NeimanH.WolkoffF. D.LevineM. J.The development of habituation in the rat. Animal Learning and Behavior, 1974, 2, 92–96.
5.
ClarkeP. B. S.KumarR.The effects of nicotine on locomotor activity in non-tolerant and tolerant rats. British Journal of Pharmacology, 1983, 78, 329–337.
6.
CunhaJ. M.MasurJ.Evaluation of psychotropic drugs with a modified open-field test. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 1978, 16, 259–267.
7.
GuptaB. D.DandiyaP. C.GuptaM. L.GabbaA. K.An examination of the effect of central nervous system stimulant and anti-depressant drugs on open-field performance in rats. European Journal of Pharmacology, 1971, 13, 341–346.
8.
MeliskaC. J.BrownR. E.Effects of caffeine on schedule-controlled responding in the rat. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 1982, 16, 745–750.
9.
MeliskaC. J.FitzpatrickK. W.RosineJ. E.Effects of nicotine on spontaneous locomotor activity in rats having high and low basal activity levels. Physiological Psychology, 1974, 2, 487–489.
10.
PradhanS. N.Effects of nicotine on several schedules of behavior in the rat. Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie, 1970, 183, 127–138.
11.
RosecransJ. A.Effects of nicotine on exploratory behavior of female rats. Pharmacologist, 1969,11,246.
12.
StolermanI. P.FinkR.JarvikM. E.Acute and chronic tolerance to nicotine measured by activity in rats. Psychopharmacology, 1973, 30, 329–342.
