Pioneer in behavioral pharmacology: a tribute to Joseph V. Brady

Abstract

The contributions of Joseph V. Brady to behavioral pharmacology span more than 50 years and range from early studies using the Estes-Skinner (conditioned emotional response) procedure to examine drug effects and various physiological processes in experimental animals to the implementation of mobile methadone treatment services and to small group behavioral analyses in simulated space environments. This expansive range of activities is based on Brady's insight and innovative use of behavioral procedures, his spirited and unabashed enthusiasm for the discipline and its philosophical underpinnings, together with a collegiality and commitment to the experimental analysis of behavior that is both legendary and inspirational. These contributions are summarized and highlighted in this tribute that focuses primarily on Brady's contributions to behavioral pharmacology but which also acknowledges his conceptual and technical contributions spanning multiple disciplines.

Fig 1

Development of conditioned suppression under the conditioned emotional response (CER) procedure. In all panels, time is on the X-axis and responses on the Y-axis. The top left frame (labeled A) represents responding of a rat under the variable-interval schedule of water presentation prior to the introduction of the clicker and shock. Frame B is the first conditioning trial where the clicker (C) and shock (S) are superimposed on the water-maintained baseline. The subsequent panels represent early and late stages in the development of conditioned suppression where it can be seen that upon repeated presentations of the clicker–shock pairing, responding is almost completely suppressed during the 5-min period preceding shock delivery but recovers quickly once the shock and the clicker are terminated. Adapted from Hunt and Brady (1951).

Fig 2

Cumulative response records of rats under the procedure where electroconvulsive shock (ECS) was delivered and this resulted in an attenuation of the suppression in the presence of the clicker (top right panel); the lower right panel is taken from a pseudo-ECS subject and demonstrates that responding remained suppressed during the clicker preceding shock delivery. Recording is the same as in Figure 1A except that “O” indicates that no shock was delivered during the time when ECS was administered. Adapted from Hunt and Brady (1951).

Fig 3

Cumulative response records of lever pressing by rats under a variable interval schedule (top panels) and under a fixed ratio schedule of electrical brain stimulation. The oblique marks on the records indicate brain stimulation. Note that responding was maintained at intermediate rates under the variable interval schedule and at high rates under the fixed ratio schedule. These rates and patterns are similar to those maintained by food and also were maintained over several days at comparable levels. Adapted from Sidman et al. (1955).

Fig 4

Sample cumulative records for rat AA-26 depicting the effects of amphetamine and reserpine on lever pressing maintained by water and on the suppression of responding during the stimulus preceding shock delivery. The arrows indicate the onset of the preshock stimulus, when the pen deflected, and the termination of that stimulus at which time shock was delivered. Note that amphetamine increased responding maintained by water but not during the conditioned stimulus, whereas reserpine decreased responding maintained by water but increased suppressed responding during the period preceding shock presentation. Adapted from Brady (1956).