An Animal Behavior Model for Studying the Actions of LSD and Related Hallucinogens
Science – November 12, 1976
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Cats injected with LSD exhibit unique behaviors, including limb flicking and abortive grooming, which are rarely seen in normal cats. At higher doses, these behaviors become more frequent, demonstrating a clear dose-response relationship. Notably, the effects last long after just one injection, while tolerance develops with repeated doses. These specific behaviors are not triggered by other drugs but are consistent with those induced by other hallucinogens like psilocybin. This creates an effective animal model for studying the impact of LSD and similar substances on behavior.
Abstract
Cats injected with LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) exhibit a group of behaviors that appear to be specific to hallucinogenic drugs. Two of these behaviors, limb flick and abortive grooming, have an extremely low frequency of occurrence in normal cats, but often dominate the behavior of LSD-treated cats. The frequency of occurrence of this group of behaviors is related to the dose of LSD. The behavioral changes are long-lasting following a single injection of LSD, and exhibit tolerance following the repeated administration of LSD. They are not elicited by a variety of control drugs, but are elicited by other indole nucleus hallucinogens. Because the behavioral effects are specific, reliable, easy to score, and quantifiable, they represent an animal model that can be used in studies of the effects of LSD and related hallucinogens.