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Effects of l1-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Temporally Spaced Responding and Discriminated Sidman Avoidance Behaviour in Rats

Abstract

SEVERAL investigators have attempted to find a safe but reliable means of determining whether a new drug will produce hallucinations in man1–4. Smythies et al. have found that rats show a characteristic “hallucinogenic profile” on various standard behavioural tasks. We ran rats on two of these tasks—responding on a differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL) schedule and discriminated Sidman avoidance—after administration of l1-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a known hallucinogen for man5–7. We hoped to find out whether the rats would display the hallucinogenic behavioural profile; and by using the same dose range for each task, to find the dose–effect relationship.

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WEBSTER, C., WILLINSKY, M., HERRING, B. et al. Effects of l1-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Temporally Spaced Responding and Discriminated Sidman Avoidance Behaviour in Rats. Nature 232, 498–501 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/232498a0

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