Protection of GSR conditioning by dextroamphetamine

Administered d-amphetamine (.175 mg/kg) or placebo capsules to 64 normal human adults on 2 successive days in a factorially designed study of GSR acquisition and extinction. Ss performed a phi-phenomenon task during sessions with tone and electric shock as the conditioning stimuli. The drug prevented habituation of conditioned GSRs during acquisition trials, and when given next day it prevented extinction. However, the capacity of this dosage to offset GSR habituation to the tone in a control group was relatively weak, and no influence was discernible on GSRs to shock, levels of skin resistance, or phi-phenomenon response. (French summary) (15 ref.)