YOHIMBINE INCREASES NOVEL ODOR-INDUCED RISK ASSESSMENT BEHAVIORS

This experiment examined the effects of two doses (0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg) of the anxiogenic compound yohimbine on risk assessment and appetitive behaviors in the presence of novel sheep's wool odor. Both doses prod uced a significant elevation in the frequency and duration of immobili ty. The duration, but not frequency, of rearing was also suppressed at the higher drug dosage. The results are consistent with previous find ings in suggesting that odor novelty produces consistent, if modest, e levations in defensiveness which is further increased by treatment wit h anxiogenic compounds.