Conditioned suppression by a stimulus associated with nalorphine in morphine-dependent monkeys

J Exp Anal Behav. 1967 May;10(3):235-42. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1967.10-235.

Abstract

Three rhesus monkeys, physically dependent on morphine, were trained to press a lever for food on a fixed ratio of 10 responses. A tone, initially a neutral stimulus, was aperiodically presented every third or fourth session, 5 min before and after the intravenous injection of nalorphine, a morphine antagonist which produces an immediate withdrawal syndrome in morphine-dependent monkeys. After several sessions, conditioned suppression of food-lever response rate was observed. Conditioned bradycardia, emesis, and excessive salivation also occurred. In 40 to 45 sessions the conditioned suppression of food-lever response rate and the conditioned autonomic changes were extinguished by presenting pairings of a tone and saline injection. The monkeys were then reconditioned by presenting the tone aperiodically, every third or fourth session, 5 min before and after the intravenous injection of nalorphine. Results were similar to the initial conditioning sessions. Two rhesus monkeys not dependent on morphine were stabilized on a food schedule similar to that used for the first three monkeys. These monkeys showed no change in food-lever response rate during or after nalorphine injections.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bradycardia / chemically induced
  • Conditioning, Operant*
  • Extinction, Psychological / drug effects
  • Female
  • Food
  • Haplorhini
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Morphine Dependence*
  • Nalorphine / pharmacology*
  • Reaction Time
  • Salivation
  • Sound
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome*
  • Vomiting / chemically induced

Substances

  • Nalorphine