Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Pharmacology logoLink to British Journal of Pharmacology
. 1974 Nov;52(3):419–425. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1974.tb08611.x

Reversal learning enhanced by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)

Concomitant rise in brain 5-hydroxytryptamine levels

AR King, IL Martin, K Arabella Melville
PMCID: PMC1777004  PMID: 4458849

Abstract

1 Small doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) (12.5-50 μg/kg) consistently facilitated learning of a brightness discrimination reversal.

2 2-Bromo-lysergic acid diethylamide (BOL-148), a structural analogue of LSD, with similar peripheral anti-5-hydroxytrypamine activity but no psychotomimetic properties, had no effect in this learning situation at a similar dose (25 μg/kg).

3 LSD, but not BOL-148, caused a small but significant increase in brain 5-hydroxytryptamine levels, but had no effect on the levels of catecholamines in the brain at 25 μg/kg.

Full text

PDF
419

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. APPEL J. B., FREEDMAN D. X. CHEMICALLY-INDUCED ALTERATIONS IN THE BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF LSD-25. Biochem Pharmacol. 1964 Jun;13:861–869. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(64)90030-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Aghajanian G. K., Foote W. E., Sheard M. H. Action of psychotogenic drugs on single midbrain raphe neurons. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1970 Feb;171(2):178–187. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Andén N. E., Corrodi H., Fuxe K., Hökfelt T. Evidence for a central 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor stimulation by lysergic acid diethylamide. Br J Pharmacol. 1968 Sep;34(1):1–7. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1968.tb07943.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Appel J. B. Effects of LSD on time-based schedules of reinforcement. Psychopharmacologia. 1971;21(2):174–186. doi: 10.1007/BF00572275. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. BRADLEY P. B., ELKES J. The effects of some drugs on the electrical activity of the brain. Brain. 1957 Mar;80(1):77–117. doi: 10.1093/brain/80.1.77. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. BRADLEY P. B., KEY B. J. The effect of drugs on arousal responses produced by electrical stimulation of the reticular formation of the brain. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1958 Feb;10(1):97–110. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(58)90107-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. BRUNER J. S., MANDLER J. M., O'DOWD D., WALLACH M. A. The role of overlearning and drive level in reversal learning. J Comp Physiol Psychol. 1958 Oct;51(5):607–613. doi: 10.1037/h0039789. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Bignami G. Facilitation of avoidance acquisition by LSD-25. Possible effects on drive modulating systems. Psychopharmacologia. 1972;25(2):146–151. doi: 10.1007/BF00423191. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Boakes R. J., Bradley P. B., Briggs I., Dray A. Antagonism of 5-hydroxytryptamine by LSD 25 in the central nervous system: a possible neuronal basis for the actions of LSD 25. Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Oct;40(2):202–218. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1970.tb09914.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Brawley P., Duffield J. C. The pharmacology of hallucinogens. Pharmacol Rev. 1972 Mar;24(1):31–66. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Castellano C. Lysergic acid diethylamide, amphetamine and chlorpromazine on water maze discrimination in mice. Psychopharmacologia. 1971;19(1):16–25. doi: 10.1007/BF00403698. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Díaz J. L., Huttunen M. O. Persistent increase in brain serotonin turnover after chronic administration of LSD in the rat. Science. 1971 Oct 1;174(4004):62–64. doi: 10.1126/science.174.4004.62. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. FREEDMAN D. X. Effects of LSD-25 on brain serotonin. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1961 Nov;134:160–166. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Freedman D. X. The psychopharmacology of hallucinogenic agents. Annu Rev Med. 1969;20:409–418. doi: 10.1146/annurev.me.20.020169.002205. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Himwich H. E., Alpers H. S. Psychopharmacology. Annu Rev Pharmacol. 1970;10:313–334. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pa.10.040170.001525. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. KENDLER H. H., LACHMAN R. Habit reversal as a function of schedule of reinforcement and drive strength. J Exp Psychol. 1958 Jun;55(6):584–591. doi: 10.1037/h0044114. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. KEY B. J. The effect of drugs on discrimination and sensory generalisation of auditory stimuli in cats. Psychopharmacologia. 1961;2:352–363. doi: 10.1007/BF00404123. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Key B. J. Alterations in the generalisation of visual stimuli induced by lysergic acid diethylamide in cats. Psychopharmacologia. 1964 Nov 11;6(5):327–337. doi: 10.1007/BF00404243. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Key B. J. The effect of LSD-25 on the interaction between conditioned and non-conditioned stimuli in a simple avoidance situation. Psychopharmacologia. 1964 Nov 11;6(5):319–326. doi: 10.1007/BF00404242. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Kuhar M. J., Roth R. H., Aghajanian G. K. Selective reduction of tryptophan hydroxylase activity in rat forebrain after midbrain raphe lesions. Brain Res. 1971 Dec 10;35(1):167–176. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(71)90602-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Leonard B. E., Tonge S. R. The effects of some hallucinogenic drugs upon the metabolism of noradrenaline. Life Sci. 1969 Aug 1;8(15):815–825. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(69)90142-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Martin I. L., Ansell G. B. A sensitive gas chromatographic procedure for the estimation of noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in rat brain. Biochem Pharmacol. 1973 Feb 15;22(4):521–533. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(73)90295-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Rosecrans J. A., Lovell R. A., Freedman D. X. Effects of lysergic acid diethylamide on the metabolism of brain 5-hydroxytryptamine. Biochem Pharmacol. 1967 Oct;16(10):2011–2021. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(67)90313-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Schechter M. D., Winter J. C. Effect of BOL on the LSD-induced alteration of flicker discrimination in the rat. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1972 Mar;196(1):64–69. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Schechter M. D., Winter J. C. Effect of mescaline and lysergic acid diethylamide on flicker discrimination in the rat. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1971 May;177(2):461–467. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Sparber S. B., Tilson H. A. Environmental influences upon drug-induced suppression of operant behavior. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1971 Oct;179(1):1–9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Pharmacology are provided here courtesy of The British Pharmacological Society

RESOURCES