Psychopharmacological studies in rats responding at touch-sensitive devices.

A multiple choice serial reaction time task was used to investigate visual attention in rats. The intelligence panel consisted of a transparent touch-sensitive device, placed directly in front of a video monitor. Amphetamine (0.2-1.6 mg/kg IP) increased errors of omission and decreased latency to respond, but had no effect on accuracy. The 5-HT agonist quipazine (0.6-2.4 mg/kg IP) increased errors of omission, but did not affect other parameters. ICV administration of hemicholinium-3 (1-4 micrograms) had no effect upon performance. Thus, psychopharmacological manipulations can reliably alter performance in the touch window box, suggesting potential new avenues for rat cognitive testing.