Summary
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1.
The performance of two groups receiving 10 mg of amphetamine, a group receiving grains 4.5 of sodium amytal and a group receiving a placebo (on the serial rote learning of a list of twelve nonsense syllables) was compared.
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2.
On the basis of Eysenck's drug postulate and the postulates of rote learning it was predicted that:
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a)
the bowing of the serial position curve would be least for the amphetamine groups;
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b)
the amphetamine groups would reach a criterion of learning more rapidly;
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c)
the amphetamine groups would show fewer behavioural oscillations;
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d)
the amphetamine groups would show more associative errors.
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3.
Prediction c) was confirmed, predictions a) and d) were infirmed and prediction b) was confirmed although at an unsatisfactory level of confidence.
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4.
Various reasons for the lack of clear results were considered and stress was laid upon the limitations placed upon interpretation of them by virtue of the use of only two dosages of D. amphetamine and one of sodium amytal and the absence of any knowledge of the effects of cumulative dosages.
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Willett, R.A. The effect of a stimulant and a depressant drug on the serial rote learning of nonsense syllables. Psychopharmacologia 3, 23–34 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00413103
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00413103