Sleepy and hostile: The effects of REM sleep deprivation on shock-elicited aggression

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to assess the effects of rapid eye movement (REMl sleep deprivation on shock-elicited aggression. REM deprivation periods of 0, 24, 48, and 72 h were used in the first study, while 48-, 72·, 96·, and 120·h periods were used in the second study. Both studies indicated that increases in REM deprivation (up to 96 h) resulted in increases in the number of aggressive responses. A decrease was shown by the 120·h group. A drive-energization or motivational-effects model is suggested.

Sweet and sour rats: The effect of insulin dosage on shock-elicited aggression

“…This would indicate that the threshold may lie somewhere between 4 and 8 units. However, the extreme amount of within-group variability which is typically observed in the shock-elicited aggression situation (see Mollenhour, Voorhees, & Davis, 1977) may have obscured changes in aggression on the part of the 4-unit subjects.…”

“…All subjects were tested in a shock-elicited aggression apparatus consisting of an opaque restraint tube, shock source, aggression target, and recording device (see Mollenhour, Voorhees, & Davis, 1977, for a more complete description). One end of the restraint tube was open and faced an omnidirectional lever which served as the aggression target.…”

Defensive burying as a function of food and water deprivation

“…Two possibilities involve the testing situations employed. First, several of the previously reported studies (e.g., Mollenhour et al, 1977;Neideffer et al, 1977) demonstrating a positive relationship between shock-elicited aggression and deprivation have employed the single-retrained-animal procedure developed by Azrin, Rubin, and Hutchinson (1968). Obviously, such a restraint procedure would be very difficult to implement and evaluate in the burying paradigm.…”

“…Further, Cahoon, Crosby, Dunn, Herrin, Hill, and McGinnis (1971) and Hamby and Cahoon (1971) have shown that rat subjects tested under food and water deprivation , respectively, displayed significantly higher levels of shock-elicited aggression responding than did satiated controls. Finally, Mollenhour, Voorhees, and Davis (1977) reported that the display of shock-elicited aggression was positively related to the duration of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation.…”

Shock-elicited attack and biting as a function of chronic vs. acute insulin injection

“…Testing took place in a shock-elicited aggression apparatus (more fully described in Mollenhour, Voorhees, & Davis, 1977) consisting of an opaque restraint tube, shock source, target rod (Lafayette Instrument Company, Model 80111, omnidirectional lever), and impulse counter. Attack upon the target rod, which extended across the midportion of the open end of the restraint tube, activated the impulse counter, thus yielding an automated record of the number of responses made by each subject.…”