Dopamine receptor blockade and extinction differentially affect behavioral variability

Behav Neurosci. 2006 Apr;120(2):488-92. doi: 10.1037/0735-7044.120.2.488.

Abstract

Dopamine (DA) neurons respond to unexpected food delivery and are inhibited during the omission of expected reward. DA receptor blockade mimics some, but not all, aspects of non-reward (extinction) conditions. It was therefore of interest to ask whether DA receptor blockade produces extinction-like increases in behavioral variability in addition to its well-known operant response-suppressing effects. In the current experiment, rats were trained drug-free on an operant task in which they pressed on a keyboard. Two of the keys led to food on a continuous reinforcement schedule. Both response rates and behavioral variability were measured. Test day administration of D(1) and D(2) antagonists SCH23390 and raclopride, like extinction, suppressed responding but, unlike extinction, did not lead to an increase in variability.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Benzazepines / pharmacology
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Operant / physiology*
  • Dopamine Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Extinction, Psychological / drug effects
  • Extinction, Psychological / physiology*
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects
  • Raclopride / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Dopamine / physiology*
  • Reinforcement Schedule

Substances

  • Benzazepines
  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • Receptors, Dopamine
  • Raclopride