Clinical observations and novels in the 19th century recognized that memory
of some events can be retrieved only under the influence of the same drug
condition that was present during the event. This dissociative effect of dr
ugs probably reflects the same drug effects that were later called the disc
riminative stimulus effects of drugs. The Society for Stimulus Properties o
f Drugs (SSPD) was founded in 1978 as a forum for communications and period
ic meetings on this drug effect. During its early years many of its members
were psychologists, but subsequent to that time the most frequent research
application has been for the pharmacological purpose of identifying new dr
ugs that have the same discriminative stimulus attributes as a prototype tr
aining drug. The majority of members have been in the United States, but se
veral major international meetings have been in Europe. The methods used by
the society's members involve both neuropharmacological and psychological
processes, allowing them to make unique contributions to the study of both
mind and brain. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.