Research DesignResearch Design

Behavioral PharmacologyBehavioral Pharmacology

Experimental Research DesignExperimental Research Design

Experimental control is essential in Experimental control is essential in behavioral pharmacology research.behavioral pharmacology research.– Independent VariablesIndependent Variables– Dependent VariablesDependent Variables

The type of experimental design may The type of experimental design may depends on the type of dependent depends on the type of dependent variable being measured. variable being measured. – Within Subjects DesignsWithin Subjects Designs– Between Subjects DesignsBetween Subjects Designs

Experimental DesignExperimental Design

Importance of Placebo ControlsImportance of Placebo Controls– Placebo EffectsPlacebo Effects

Three-Groups DesignsThree-Groups Designs

Studying Drugs & BehaviorStudying Drugs & Behavior

PsychopharmacologyPsychopharmacology– psychology + pharmacologypsychology + pharmacology

OROR

– psychiatry + pharmacologypsychiatry + pharmacology

Behavioral PharmacologyBehavioral Pharmacology– behavior + pharmacologybehavior + pharmacology

Psychopharmacology OR Psychopharmacology OR Behavioral PharmacologyBehavioral Pharmacology

The distinction is not always clear.The distinction is not always clear.

The term “psychopharmacology” was The term “psychopharmacology” was coined a few decades before the science coined a few decades before the science of behavior analysis was developed.of behavior analysis was developed.– Some people distinguish these specializations Some people distinguish these specializations

based on the accepted methodology to study based on the accepted methodology to study drug effects. (i.e., a broader range of methods drug effects. (i.e., a broader range of methods in psychopharmacology.)in psychopharmacology.)

– Others distinguish them based on emphasis Others distinguish them based on emphasis of research questions.of research questions.

– Others don’t distinguish them at all.Others don’t distinguish them at all.

Behavioral PharmacologyBehavioral Pharmacology

A specialization of behavioral science A specialization of behavioral science that applies the methods and concepts that applies the methods and concepts of behavior analysis to explain the of behavior analysis to explain the behavioral effects of drugs.behavioral effects of drugs.– Behavior Analysis is a unique natural Behavior Analysis is a unique natural

science approach to study behavior and a science approach to study behavior and a philosophy of science that was popularized philosophy of science that was popularized by B.F. Skinner.by B.F. Skinner.

Science of Behavior AnalysisScience of Behavior Analysis

Environmental events are emphasized Environmental events are emphasized because:because:– such variables clearly influence behaviorsuch variables clearly influence behavior– they are directly observablethey are directly observable– we have the technology to study themwe have the technology to study them– they are subject to direct manipulationthey are subject to direct manipulation

Behavior AnalysisBehavior Analysis

a natural science emphasizing effects of a natural science emphasizing effects of environmental variables on behaviorenvironmental variables on behaviorconcerned with behavior in its own right, concerned with behavior in its own right, not as an indication of events at another not as an indication of events at another level of analysislevel of analysisa proven practical approach to deal with a a proven practical approach to deal with a wide variety of behavioral problems wide variety of behavioral problems (including drug use and abuse)(including drug use and abuse)

Behaviorism in the Early 20Behaviorism in the Early 20thth Century Century

Ivan PavlovIvan Pavlov– Respondent conditioningRespondent conditioning– Some of Pavlov’s early work examined drug Some of Pavlov’s early work examined drug

effects on respondent conditioning.effects on respondent conditioning.– This work preceded the formal development of This work preceded the formal development of

Behavioral Pharmacology.Behavioral Pharmacology.

John WatsonJohn Watson– Introduced BehaviorismIntroduced Behaviorism– First to put forth a strong natural science First to put forth a strong natural science

approach for psychologyapproach for psychology– Attempted to explain behavior primarily in Attempted to explain behavior primarily in

terms of respondent conditioningterms of respondent conditioning– Methodological Behaviorism (deals only with Methodological Behaviorism (deals only with

publicly observable events)publicly observable events)

Radical BehaviorismRadical BehaviorismPhilosophical Position Adopted and Philosophical Position Adopted and Promoted by B.F. SkinnerPromoted by B.F. Skinner– conceptualizes behavior as involving both conceptualizes behavior as involving both

public and private eventspublic and private events– assigns no special status to private eventsassigns no special status to private events– Private events (e.g., thoughts, feelings) do Private events (e.g., thoughts, feelings) do

not cause overt behavior:not cause overt behavior:they are stimuli that function similar to directly they are stimuli that function similar to directly observable stimuli observable stimuli

they are difficult to studythey are difficult to study

Experimental Analysis of BehaviorExperimental Analysis of BehaviorEssential features of EAB ResearchEssential features of EAB Research

JEAB (founded in 1958) continues to be an important JEAB (founded in 1958) continues to be an important outlet for EAB researchoutlet for EAB research

Uses of EAB in Behavioral Uses of EAB in Behavioral PharmacologyPharmacology

Main AssumptionsMain Assumptions– Behavior is important in its own right.Behavior is important in its own right.– An intensive study of a few subjects is a fruitful An intensive study of a few subjects is a fruitful

research strategy.research strategy.– Graphic analysis of data is desirable.Graphic analysis of data is desirable.– Direct and repeated measures are invaluable.Direct and repeated measures are invaluable.– Variable data are best dealt with by isolating and Variable data are best dealt with by isolating and

controlling responsible extraneous variables.controlling responsible extraneous variables.– Studies of nonhuman subjects under controlled Studies of nonhuman subjects under controlled

experimental conditions can be of great value to experimental conditions can be of great value to understand variables that control human behavior.understand variables that control human behavior.

Historical Landmarks in Behavioral PharmacologyHistorical Landmarks in Behavioral Pharmacology

Research Areas in Behavioral Research Areas in Behavioral PharmacologyPharmacology

Behavioral LociBehavioral Loci– what aspects of behavior are altered by the drug (e.g., what aspects of behavior are altered by the drug (e.g.,

reaction time)reaction time)

Behavioral Mechanisms of ActionBehavioral Mechanisms of Action– the stimulus functions of the drug; the effects of the the stimulus functions of the drug; the effects of the

drug on the capacity of other stimuli to control drug on the capacity of other stimuli to control behaviorbehavior

Variables that Modulate Drug’s Behavioral Variables that Modulate Drug’s Behavioral Effects Effects – e.g., other stimuli, alternative reinforcers etc…e.g., other stimuli, alternative reinforcers etc…

Measuring Psychoactive Drug Measuring Psychoactive Drug Effects on BehaviorEffects on Behavior

Levels of ArousalLevels of Arousal– EEG activity and SleepEEG activity and Sleep– Arousal and Mood StatesArousal and Mood States– Arousal and ActivityArousal and Activity

Measuring Performance in HumansMeasuring Performance in Humans

PerceptionPerception– Psychophysical measures of thresholdPsychophysical measures of threshold

absolute and differential thresholdsabsolute and differential thresholdscritical frequency at fusion testcritical frequency at fusion test

Cognitive Performance and Intellectual Cognitive Performance and Intellectual FunctioningFunctioning– vigilance, attention, learning & memory tasksvigilance, attention, learning & memory tasks

mental arithmeticmental arithmeticdigit symbol substitution testdigit symbol substitution test

Motor PerformanceMotor Performance– reaction time, hand-eye coordinationreaction time, hand-eye coordination

e.g. pursuit rotor teste.g. pursuit rotor test

Measuring Behavior in NonhumansMeasuring Behavior in Nonhumans

Unconditioned BehaviorUnconditioned Behavior– Spontaneous motor activity Spontaneous motor activity

measured in an open field apparatusmeasured in an open field apparatus

– Stereotypic behaviorsStereotypic behaviors

Measuring Behavior in NonhumansMeasuring Behavior in Nonhumans

Respondent ConditioningRespondent Conditioning– Conditioned Place PreferenceConditioned Place Preference– Conditioned Taste AversionConditioned Taste Aversion

Measuring Behavior in NonhumansMeasuring Behavior in Nonhumans

Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning– emphasis on antecedents, responses, emphasis on antecedents, responses,

consequences, and contingencies of consequences, and contingencies of reinforcementreinforcement

– the process of modifying some characteristic the process of modifying some characteristic of behavior by altering its consequencesof behavior by altering its consequences

Schedules of ReinforcementSchedules of ReinforcementRatio Schedules vs. Interval SchedulesRatio Schedules vs. Interval Schedules– Some drugs have been shown to exhibit “rate Some drugs have been shown to exhibit “rate

dependency”dependency”– e.g., Stimulants increase responding under FI e.g., Stimulants increase responding under FI

schedules but suppress responding under FR schedules but suppress responding under FR schedulesschedules

Escape-Avoidance TasksEscape-Avoidance Tasks– Some drugs (e.g., anxiolytics) block avoidance Some drugs (e.g., anxiolytics) block avoidance

behavior without affecting escape behavior.behavior without affecting escape behavior.

Punishment SchedulesPunishment Schedules– Responding maintained by appetitive rewards (e.g., Responding maintained by appetitive rewards (e.g.,

food) may be suppressed by punishing stimuli (e.g., food) may be suppressed by punishing stimuli (e.g., electric shocks). electric shocks).

– Some drugs increase behavior that has been Some drugs increase behavior that has been suppressed by punishment (e.g., CNS depressants)suppressed by punishment (e.g., CNS depressants)

Other Common Operant Procedures Other Common Operant Procedures in Behavioral Pharmacologyin Behavioral Pharmacology

Drug DiscriminationDrug Discrimination– analyzing drugs according to analyzing drugs according to

their stimulus propertiestheir stimulus properties– tool for classifying novel drugs tool for classifying novel drugs – determining neurochemical determining neurochemical

mechanisms of drug actionmechanisms of drug action

Drug Self-AdministrationDrug Self-Administration– analyzing drugs for reinforcing analyzing drugs for reinforcing

propertiesproperties– common model to assess common model to assess

abuse liabilityabuse liability