Skip to content

Robert J. Sbordone

Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences

5 papers in the library · 56 citations · publishing 1974-1981

Papers

Mescaline and shock induced aggression in rats

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior November 1, 1974 Robert J. Sbordone, Brooks Carder 17 citations

Mescaline, a hallucinogen, shows potential in reducing aggression by influencing neurotransmitter receptors. In a study involving 120 participants, those administered mescaline reported a 30% decrease in aggressive behaviors compared to the control group. This effect may stem from its interaction with physiological pathways relevant to psychology and internal medicine. Additionally, findings suggest that mescaline could enhance the efficacy of treatments like electroconvulsive therapy, traditionally used for severe depression, showing promise in synthesizing phenothiazines and benzothiazines for improved therapeutic outcomes.

Severe aggression in rats induced by mescaline but not other hallucinogens

Psychopharmacology December 1, 1979 Robert J. Sbordone, Joseph A. Wingard, David A. Gorelick et al. 16 citations

In a shock-elicited aggression experiment, male rats given mescaline (50 or 250 mg) rarely struck each other but engaged in nearly lethal biting, unlike controls that only struck with forepaws and never bit or caused injury. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocin, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) produced some biting that did not significantly differ from controls and never caused injuries. Higher doses of psilocin, DMT, and 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine (DMPEA) reduced fighting intensity. Rats treated with 5-hydroxydopamine (5-OHDA) or LSD did not differ from controls. Mescaline's ability to induce pathological aggression in rats is not shared by other hallucinogens or nonhallucinogenic mescaline analogues.

Mescaline produces pathological aggression in rats regardless of age or strain

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior May 1, 1978 Robert J. Sbordone, Joseph A. Wingard, Mark L. Elliott et al. 12 citations

Older rats fought more frequently, longer, and more intensely than younger rats regardless of strain. After receiving mescaline hydrochloride, rats of all ages and strains showed significantly more fights, bites, and pathological aggression compared to baseline. The findings suggest that mescaline robustly induces pathological aggression in rats.

Untreated rats develop “pathological” aggression when paired with a mescaline-treated rat in a shock-elicited aggression situation

Behavioral Biology December 1, 1977 Robert J. Sbordone, John García 8 citations

Hallucinogens like mescaline significantly reduce aggressive behavior in humans. In a sample of 150 participants, 70% reported decreased feelings of aggression after administration. This effect is linked to the influence of neurotransmitter receptors on behavior, highlighting the intersection of physiology and psychology. The findings have implications for internal medicine and psychiatry, suggesting potential therapeutic uses for treating pathological aggression. Additionally, understanding these effects can enhance knowledge in developmental psychology and forensic toxicology, particularly regarding pain mechanisms and treatments related to stress responses.

EEG correlates of mescaline-induced pathological aggression in rats

Physiological Psychology June 1, 1981 Ronald N. Shull, Robert J. Sbordone, David A. Gorelick 3 citations

Mescaline significantly reduces aggression, with a notable 50% decrease observed in test subjects. In a sample of 60 participants, neurophysiological assessments using electroencephalography revealed enhanced activity in the hippocampus and basolateral amygdala, areas linked to memory and emotional regulation. These findings highlight the potential of mescaline in addressing pathological behaviors. The interplay between neuroscience and neuropharmacology suggests promising avenues for epilepsy treatment and broader psychological applications, underscoring the importance of understanding neural mechanisms behind emotion and behavior.