Catecholamines and operant response rates in albino rats.

Abstract

The action of d-amphetamine was studied in rats conditioned on an operant "multiple" schedule of reinforcement. The action of this drug depended on the control response rate of each individual. The turnover of brain norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) was estimated in the whole brain of the same rats; the steady state level of NE, but not the turnover time, was significantly correlated with the average response rate of each subject. No significant correlation was found between this response rate and the turnover of DA. It is proposed that the response rate dependent effects of d-amphetamine might be related to brain NE levels.