[Effect of catecholamines on the motivational and reinforcing effects of self stimulation zones]

Abstract

A study has been made of the influence of disulphiram--a drug that lowers the level of norepinephrine and DOPA which restores its content in brain tissues,--on motivational and reinforcing effects caused by the action of a gradually increasing current on the self-stimulation (SS) zones. It has been shown that disulphiram, while suppressing motivational reactions does not exert such an effect on SS reactions. A half of the studied animals showed in these conditions an increased SS frequency. During disulphiram action (on the second day) DOPA restored motivational reactions and inhibited SS reactions. It is assumed that norepinephrine is involved in the mediatory system activating goal-directed motivational behaviour, but it does not constitute, as it seems, the major mediator of the reinforcement system.