Effects of dopamine antagonists on the timing of two intervals

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Apr;75(1):9-15. doi: 10.1016/s0091-3057(03)00036-4.

Abstract

Rats were trained on a two-interval (12 and 36 s) temporal production task (the peak procedure). Test sessions were conducted in which either the D(1) antagonist SCH-23390 (SCH; 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 mg/kg) or the D(2) antagonist haloperidol (HAL; 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 mg/kg) were injected prior to testing. Both drugs affected the amount of responding, but only HAL affected timing. Under HAL, both intervals were overestimated, consistent with a HAL-induced decrease in clock speed. Drug-induced decreases in response output were more profound for the long interval than the short. In addition, there was evidence of HAL- and SCH-induced delays in response initiation that were more severe for the long interval, perhaps owing to its status as a weaker conditioned stimulus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Animals
  • Benzazepines / pharmacology
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects
  • Dopamine Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Haloperidol / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Dopamine D1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Time Perception / drug effects*

Substances

  • Benzazepines
  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists
  • Receptors, Dopamine D1
  • Haloperidol