Dexamphetamine increases striatal neuronal firing in freely moving rats

In freely moving rats dexamphetamine (1-10 mg/kg i.p.) produced an increase in striatal neuronal activity which lasted for the duration of the drug-induced behavioral activation and stereotypy. These results are in direct contrast to data derived from immobilized preparations which respond to dexamphetamine by brief activation followed by prolonged inhibition of striatal neuronal firing. The discrepancy between data derived from freely moving and immobilized animals suggests that striatal activation during stereotypy may depend on sensory feedback from behavior. It is concluded that, in intact behaving rats, dexamphetamine increases the rate of discharge of most striatal neurons.