Haloperidol and light reinforcement in the rat

Abstract

The effect of the anti-psychotic drug, haloperidol (50 mg/kg), on bar pressing in the rat was investigated in a light-reinforcement situation. Drugged animals responded significantly more for response contingent flickering light (RCF) and less for steady light (RCL) than saline injected animals. The finding is consistent with the possible arousal decreasing action of haloperidol and with the notion of an optimum level of arolsal.

Neotic preferences in laboratory rodents: Issues, assessment and substrates

“…Chronic treatment with this latter drug and with risperidone has recently been shown to have no effect on hole-board exploration in rats (Karl et al, 2006). Haloperidol has also been reported to decrease bar-pressing by rats for light onset, but increase this response when the reinforcement was flickering light (Lowe, 1976). Because the effects of DA agonists on neotic preferences have generally been contrary to expectations derived from the view that novelty seeking is determined by activity of the mesolimbic DA reward system (Bardo et al, 1996), the effects of DA antagonists should also be interpreted within this context.…”