PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES IN RATS RESPONDING AT TOUCH-SENSITIVE DEVICES

A multiple choice serial reaction time task was used to investigate vi sual attention in rats. The intel ligence panel consisted of a transpa rent touch-sensitive device, placed directly in front of a video monit or. Amphetamine (0.2-1.6 mg/kg IF) increased errors of omission and de creased latency to respond, but had no effect on accuracy. The 5-HT ag onist quipazine (0.6-2.4 mg/kg IP) increased errors of omission, but d id not affect other parameters. ICV administration of hemicholinium-3 (1-41-mu g) had no effect upon performance. Thus, psychopharmacologica l manipulations can reliably alter performance in the touch window box , suggesting potential new avenues for rat cognitive testing.