Social interaction between drugged and undrugged rats

Abstract

Social interaction between two rats placed in a hole-board apparatus was studied. The duration and frequency of active contact was higher for animals housed singly than for those housed in pairs, and for those tested with an unfamiliar rather than a familiar partner. Animals housed alone had a higher frequency and duration of passive contact, but the familiarity of the partner did not affect this measure. Chlorpromazine reduced the frequency of active contact but increased the frequency and duration of passive contact. When only one of the pair was drugged, both rats showed more frequent changes from one behavior to another, compared with pairs where both were in the same drug state. Animals housed alone showed the highest number of changes in behavior, and those tested with an unfamiliar partner showed a higher level than those tested with a familiar one. © 1974 Psychonomic Society, Inc.