Same or different?. An exploration of the behavioral effects of benzamides

Abstract

Modern research iii behavioral pharmacology involves the evaluation of new con.­pounds, searching for similarities with sorne reference drugs. However, to detect possible unexpected effects, one should Iook for different rather thai. similar effects, with respect to known drugs. Ir. the present paper, dic behavioral effects of two benzamides, nan.ely sulpiride and tiapride, are evaluated, stressing dic features that differentiate them fron.

other drugs. Rata asid cats were employed as subjects and perfonnance was maintained by severai aversive vid positive reinforcernent schedules. The benzamides explored do not fit sirnply hito the classificatory frames of present day psychophannacology, since seve­ml differences were evident with respect to the behavioral effects of weIl known com­pounds.