Operant behavior as a technique for toxicity testing.

Behavioral toxicology is a discipline which has evolved out of the need for data on the effects of toxic agents on the function of the central nervous system. To date the field is divided over the question of which behavioral models to use to detect behavioral toxicities. Operant conditioning and schedule-controlled responding have been used as baselines for testing pharmacological agents for nearly 40 years, and there is no reason that the developing field of behavioral toxicology cannot take advantage of the lessons learned during this 40-year period. Behaviors maintained by operant conditioning procedures have proven to be sensitive to a wide range of chemicals. Using these procedures, behavior has been shown to; be sensitive to toxic agents, provide data relevant to the question of behavioral specificity, provide a stable baseline for extended periods of time, and allow for the assessment of specific functions such as temporal discrimination, learning and memory, and sensory system function.