POSSIBLE MECHANISMS INVOLVED IN STEREOTYPED BEHAVIOR ELICITED BY AMPHETAMINE

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 12  (3) , 381-388
Abstract
In a variety of animals, amphetamine administration produces an increase in locomotor behavior and an induction of repetitive, stereotyped behaviors. The induction of stereotyped behaviors is probably accomplished, in part, by alterations in catecholaminergic transmission in the CNS. By recording the spontaneous activity of neurons in the rat brain substantia nigra, reticular formation, basal ganglia and elsewhere during systemic administration of amphetamine and related drugs, or during administration by means of microinfusions directly into these brain regions, relationships may be drawn between the biochemical and behavioral effects of these drug-induced changes in neuronal activity in the CNS. Amphetamine produces an inhibition of neuronal activity in the neostriatum and pars compacta of the substantia nigra by dopamine released from dopaminergic terminals in the neostriatum and dopaminergic dendrites in the substantia nigra, respectively. There may be a GABA-mediated functional antagonism between excitatory cortical and/or thalamic input to the neostriatum and dopaminergic input from the substantia nigra, which could be involved in the apparently mutually exclusive occurrence of amphetamine-induced locomotion and stereotyped behaviors that follow amphetamine administration. Such evidence may also have relevance to a variety of behavioral disorders involving the basal ganglia and catecholaminergic transmission in the CNS.