The present experiment was designed, primarily, to determine the dose-and time-response relations for d-lyscrgic acid diethylamide (LSD-25). According to RUSSELL (1960), there have been relatively few studies of dose-and time-response relations and yet there is an obvious and important need for such information. This is especially true for LSD-25 since there is currently so much research being done with the drug.
A second purpose was to compare the effects of different doses of the drug on behavior mMntained by positive reinforcement with the effects on behavior maintained by negative reinforcement. Thus, subjects in one operant conditioning situation pressed a bar for food reward and in the other situation subjects pressed to avoid shock.
Method
Subjects and Apparatus
The subjects were 12 male albino rats of the Wistar strain, purchased from Research Animals, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They were 90 to 100 days of age at the start of the experiment and averaged 172.6 gin. (SD = 12.7) in body weight.
The apparatus consisted of two Skinner-type boxes, each placed inside separate, relatively soundproof, ice chests. One box was wired so that electric shock could be delivered through a grid scrambler to the floor of the experimental chamber. Shocks of 1.6 ma. with a duration of 0.5 sec. were used. The second box was equipped for food reinforcement and delivered 45-mg. Noyes Co. pellets.
Programming of the testing sessions was controlled by timers and relay circuitry which automatically delivered the shock and food pellets.