Skip to main content
Log in

Influence of δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on partial reinforcement effects

  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two experiments were performed with rats trained with either continuous reinforcement (food) or random 50% partial reinforcement for running in a straight alley. Half the rats were trained with daily injections of 0.5 mg/kg δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and half with vehicle injections, all animals being extinguished with vehicle injections in Expt. 1 and with THC injections in Expt. 2. The partial reinforcement acquisition effect was abolished by THC during training; the partial reinforcement extinction effect was abolished by THC either during training or during extinction. In these respects THC resembles amylobarbitone and alcohol.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barry, H., III, Miller, N. E.: Effects of drugs on approach-avoidance conflict tested repeatedly by means of a “telescope alley”. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 55, 201–210 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barry, H., III, Wagner, A. R., Miller, N. E.: Effects of alcohol and amobarbital on performance inhibited by experimental extinction. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 55, 464–468 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bicher, H. I., Mechoulam, R.: Pharmacological effects of two constituents of marihuana. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 172, 24–31 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, H.: Possible anticholinesterase-like effects of trans(−) δ 8 and -δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol as observed in the general motor activity of mice. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 27, 111–116 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, E. W., Paton, W. D. M., Pertwee, R. G.: Preliminary experiments on the chemistry and pharmacology of cannabis. Nature (Lond.) 228, 134–136 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. A.: Sodium amobarbital and effects of frustrative nonreward. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 69, 55–64 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. A.: The structure of the emotions and the limbic system. In: Physiology, emotion and psychosomatic illness, R. Porter, and J. Knight, eds., pp. 87–120. Amsterdam: Associated Scientific Publishers (Ciba Foundation, Symposium 8, new series.) (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. A., Dudderidge, H. J.: Sodium amylobarbitone, the partial reinforcement extinction effect, and the frustration effect in the double runway. Neuropharmacology 10, 217–222 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollister, L. E., Gillespie, H. K.: Marihuana, ethanol and dextro-amphetamine. Arch. gen. Psychiat. 23, 199–203 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ison, J. R., Pennes, E. S.: Interaction of amobarbital sodium and reinforcement schedule in determining resistance to extinction of an instrumental running response. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 68, 215–219 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubena, R. K., Barry, H., III: Interactions of δ 1 tetrahydrocannabinol with barbiturates and methamphetamine. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 173, 94–100 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Manno, J. E., Kiplinger, G. F., Scholz, N., Forney, R. B., Haine, S. E.: The influence of alcohol and marihuana on motor and mental performance. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 12, 202–211 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, N. E.: The analysis of motivational effects illustrated by experiments on amylobarbitone. In: Animal behaviour and drug action, H. Steinberg, ed., pp. 1–18. London: Churchill (Ciba Foundation, Symposium)

  • Nelson, P. B., Wollen, K. A.: Effects of ethanol and partial reinforcement upon runway acquisition. Psychon. Sci. 3, 135–136 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, L. M., Lutz, M. P., Gould, M. H., Domino, E. F.: δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and ethyl alcohol: evidence for cross-tolerance in the rat. Science 175, 1022–1023 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Overton, D. A.: State-dependent learning produced by depressant and atropine-like drugs. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 10, 6–31 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Drewnowski, A., Gray, J.A. Influence of δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on partial reinforcement effects. Psychopharmacologia 43, 233–237 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429256

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429256

Key words

Navigation