Question

A researcher gives a rat a 0.125 mg/kg dose of amphetamine, causing the rat to run on its wheel 20% more than it would normally. the researcher comes back two days later and gives the same dose (0.125 mg/kg) of amphetamine, and the rat now runs 35% more than normal. this is an example of drug-induced group of answer choices

O behavioral inhibition.
O behavioral excitation.
O behavioral exacerbation.
O behavioral sensitization.
O behavioral habituation.

Answer 1

A rat showing increased activity after repeated administration of the same dose of amphetamine demonstrates behavioral sensitization, since the drug's effects have become more potent over time due to its action on dopamine release and reuptake. The correct answer is option: 4) behavioral sensitization.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario you provided, where a researcher finds that a rat runs 20% more than normal after receiving a 0.125 mg/kg dose of amphetamine and then runs 35% more after receiving the same dose two days later, is an example of behavioral sensitization. Behavioral sensitization is characterized by an increment in the potency of a drug's effects following repeated administration. The rat's increased activity level in response to the same dose of amphetamine suggests that its nervous system has become more sensitive to the drug, causing the rat to exhibit a greater behavioral response over time.

Amphetamines, such as the one administered in this study, are known to stimulate the release of dopamine and block its reuptake, which leads to increased neural activity related to alertness and motor activity. This can result in heightened responses to stimuli, as observed in the rat's increased wheel running activity. This is in contrast to behavioral habituation, where the response to a drug would decrease over time due to repeated exposure.