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ISSN : 1226-9654

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Effects of Diazepam, Lorazepam, and Yohimbine on the Fear-Potentiated Startle

The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology / The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology, (P)1226-9654; (E)2733-466X
1991, v.3, pp.83-91
Jung-Soo Han (Korea University)
Jae-Il Kim (Korea University)
Ki-Suk Kim (Korea University)
Han, J., Kim, J., & Kim, K. (1991). Effects of Diazepam, Lorazepam, and Yohimbine on the Fear-Potentiated Startle. The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology, 3, 83-91.
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Abstract

This study was conducted to examine whether diazepam and lorazepam acting on benzodiazepine receptors have any effect on the expression of fear in potentiated startle, whether or not yohimbine which acts in α2-adrenergic receptors and increases norepinphine in central nervous system have any role, and how pretreatment of diazepam or lorazepam influences the yohimbine`s effect. Ten conitioning trials, in which light was paired with shock(1.0mA), were presented on each of two successive training days, and on the following day each of six groups were injected respectively saline(0.1cc/kg), diazepam(1.25mg/kg), lorazepam(1.25mg/kg), yohimbine(0.25mg/kg), yohimbine after diazepam, and yohimbine after lorazepam before measuring the startle responses. Results showed that the saline-injected animals exhibit higher startle response than only in the presence of startle stimulus(intense auditory stimulus) when they were presented light and startle stimulus, but the response magnitude was less than that of yohimbine-injected animals. For diazepam group, lorazepam group, and yohimbine-added group, the animals did not show potentiated startle response. Taken together, yohimbine increases norepinephine in central nervous system and elicits fear easily while diazepam and lorazepam inhibit fear.

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The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology

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