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Relationship between reward-enhancing and stereotypical effects of psychomotor stimulant drugs

Nature volume 264, pages 57–59 (1976)Cite this article

Abstract

BLEULER has described stereotyped behaviour as “one of the most striking external manifestations of schizophrenia”1. Schizophrenic stereotyped behaviour has been found in the spheres of movement, action, posture, speech, writing, thought aid desire1. Abuse of the psychomotor stimulant drugs, such as the amphetamines, methylphenidate, cocaine and pipradrol, can cause a psychosis which is clinically indistinguishable from paranoid schizophrenia2, and which contains stereotyped components2,3. In animals, acute doses of the stimulants can induce stereotyped behaviour which is apparently under minimal situational control, and which can disrupt normal activity4. In contrast, low doses of the stimulants can apparently improve learning and performance in a variety of situations, in both animals5 and man6. This paper demonstrates a relationship between these two apparently diverse actions.

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  1. Psychological Laboratory, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK

    T. W. ROBBINS

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  1. T. W. ROBBINS
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ROBBINS, T. Relationship between reward-enhancing and stereotypical effects of psychomotor stimulant drugs. Nature 264, 57–59 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/264057a0

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