Effects of clozapine, chlorpromazine and haloperidol on schedule-controlled behavior

Abstract

The effects of clozapine, chlorpromazine, and haloperidol were determined in mice and pigeons responding under a multiple fixed-ratio 30, fixed-interval 600 sec schedule of food presentation. In both species, low doses were without effect and moderate to high doses of all three antipsychotics decreased responding. In contrast to other behavioral tests used to predict antipsychotic activity, clozapine was equipotent or more potent than chlorpromazine in decreasing responding under the multiple fixed-ratio 30, fixed-interval 600 sec schedule. The order of potency observed in the mouse was: haloperidol greater than chlorpromazine greater than or equal to clozapine. The order of potency in the pigeon was: haloperidol greater than clozapine greater than chlorpromazine. In mice and pigeons, the rate of responding under the fixed-ratio component was decreased at lower than, or the same doses of clozapine as that required to decrease fixed-interval responding. However, in both species, chlorpromazine and haloperidol decreased fixed-interval responding at lower doses or the same dose as that required to decrease fixed-ratio responding.