TY - JOUR
T1 - The pharmacological characterization of attentional processes using a two-lever choice reaction time task in rats
AU - Mishima, Kenichi
AU - Fujii, Megumi
AU - Aoo, Naoya
AU - Yoshikawa, Tetsuya
AU - Fukue, Yoshihiko
AU - Honda, Yoko
AU - Egashira, Nobuaki
AU - Iwasaki, Katsunori
AU - Shoyama, Yukihiro
AU - Fujiwara, Michihiro
PY - 2002/12/1
Y1 - 2002/12/1
N2 - Activating the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems is known to enhance attentional processes, while stimulating dopaminergic, serotonergic, and GABAergic systems suppresses them. The objective of the present study was to investigate the pharmacological characterization in the attentional processes of a two-lever choice reaction time (CRT) task using different centrally acting drugs. We designed seven parameters in this task: the correct response (CR) rate; error response rate; nonresponse (NR) rate; differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) responses; number of incorrect lever pressings during both the intertrial interval and DRO periods; the mean CRT of CR; and activity during 30 trials. The compounds produced different profiles at each dose. 1) Facilitative and disruptive effects on attentional processes occurred with changes in CRT alone. Scopolamine (0.1 mg/kg) and prazosin (0.3-1 mg/kg) prolonged the CRT, whereas methamphetamine (0.3 mg/kg) shortened the CRT. 2) Attentional deficits occurred with abnormal behavior showing premature response or perseverative behavior. Scopolamine (0.2-1 mg/kg), methamphetamine (3 mg/kg), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (10 mg/kg), and MK-801 (0.1-0.3 mg/kg) produced a marked increase in the number of total lever pressings. 3) Motor function deficits rather than attentional deficits occurred. 8-OH DPAT (1 mg/kg) and muscimol (1 mg/kg) produced a decrease in CR and an increase in NR with a marked decrease in activity and prolonged the CRT. Activating noradrenergic α1 receptors was found to enhance the attentional processes, while blocking muscarinic receptors, α1, receptors, and NMDA receptors, and stimulating cannabinoid receptors and the dopaminergic systems impaired the attentional processes in the two-lever CRT task.
AB - Activating the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems is known to enhance attentional processes, while stimulating dopaminergic, serotonergic, and GABAergic systems suppresses them. The objective of the present study was to investigate the pharmacological characterization in the attentional processes of a two-lever choice reaction time (CRT) task using different centrally acting drugs. We designed seven parameters in this task: the correct response (CR) rate; error response rate; nonresponse (NR) rate; differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) responses; number of incorrect lever pressings during both the intertrial interval and DRO periods; the mean CRT of CR; and activity during 30 trials. The compounds produced different profiles at each dose. 1) Facilitative and disruptive effects on attentional processes occurred with changes in CRT alone. Scopolamine (0.1 mg/kg) and prazosin (0.3-1 mg/kg) prolonged the CRT, whereas methamphetamine (0.3 mg/kg) shortened the CRT. 2) Attentional deficits occurred with abnormal behavior showing premature response or perseverative behavior. Scopolamine (0.2-1 mg/kg), methamphetamine (3 mg/kg), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (10 mg/kg), and MK-801 (0.1-0.3 mg/kg) produced a marked increase in the number of total lever pressings. 3) Motor function deficits rather than attentional deficits occurred. 8-OH DPAT (1 mg/kg) and muscimol (1 mg/kg) produced a decrease in CR and an increase in NR with a marked decrease in activity and prolonged the CRT. Activating noradrenergic α1 receptors was found to enhance the attentional processes, while blocking muscarinic receptors, α1, receptors, and NMDA receptors, and stimulating cannabinoid receptors and the dopaminergic systems impaired the attentional processes in the two-lever CRT task.
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U2 - 10.1248/bpb.25.1570
DO - 10.1248/bpb.25.1570
M3 - Article
C2 - 12499642
AN - SCOPUS:10844271478
VL - 25
SP - 1570
EP - 1576
JO - Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin
JF - Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin
SN - 0918-6158
IS - 12
ER -