Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Fall 1973

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mental Health Counseling

Committee Chair

Terry L. Devietti

Second Committee Member

Alma C. Spithill

Third Committee Member

Max Zwanziger

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic long-term amphetamine intoxication on active avoidance learning and retention in rats. The two experiments in the study were designed to investigate whether the effects noted during acute administration of the drug would be present at intervals of 2, 8 and 14 days after cessation of a chronic drug treatment. Experiment 1 indicated that rats trained 40 minutes after injection of the drug acquired the active avoidance task at a significantly faster rate than rats injected with saline, but their retention levels were the same. The results of Experiment 2 indicated that long-term amphetamine intoxication had little effect on the rats' ability to acquire or retain avoidance learning when trained at intervals of 2, 8 and 14 days after cessation of the drug treatment. Long-term amphetamine intoxication significantly retarded the rate of weight gain in drugged animals.

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