Suppression of neophobia by chlorpromazine in wild rats

Abstract

Three experiments investigating the effects of chlorpromazine on the neophobia of wild rats are reported. In a laboratory test, treatment with chlorpromazine facilitated consumption from a novel food source and mitigated the decrease in consumption from a familiar food source when novel stimuli were introduced. In the first field test, treatment with chlorpromazine increased trapping success. In the second field test, treatment with chlorpromazine increased trapping success and mitigated the suppression in consumption from a familiar bait box that usually occurs when traps are set out. A second laboratory test showed that the results of the three preceding experiments were not due to the enhanced preference for sweet-tasting substances caused by the chlorpromazine. Several implications and potential uses of the techniques employed are discussed.