Chlordiazepoxide and isolation induced timidity in rats.

The effects of chlordiazepoxide (CDP) on emergence behavior was examined in socially reared and isolation reared rats. It was found that low doses of CDP decreased the emergence times of isolated animals but had little effect on the emergence of social animals. At higher doses the drug retarded emergence in all groups but there were no differential effects. The results do not support claims that rearing conditions influence the susceptability of rats to CNS depressants, rather they suggest that particular levels of CDP selectively influence "emotional" behavior.