The novel-response procedure in humans

The novel-response drug discrimination procedure is one of several three-ch oice procedures developed to address interpretational difficulties that can occur under standard two-response procedures. The novel-response procedure is unique among three-choice discrimination procedures by using instructio ns, rather than explicit training procedures. With the novel-response proce dure, participants are trained under a standard two-response (drug vs, plac ebo) discrimination, and then instructed that in the presence of a drug sti mulus unlike either of the training drugs, responses should be made on the novel-response alternative. Several studies have assessed the utility of th e novel-response procedure by comparing effects under a standard two-respon se and the novel-response procedure in participants trained to discriminate triazolam from placebo. Results indicate that the novel-response procedure can increase the selectivity of both placebo-and drug-appropriate respondi ng, and in this way, allows for finer distinctions to be made among sedativ es than a standard two-response procedure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.