Effects of methylphenidate and d-amphetamine on timing in the rat.

Rats were trained to press a lever for food pellets provided according to a fixed interval 60-sec schedule of reinforcement. Probe trials (peak trials) assessed responding over two-min periods with no pellet delivered. The low rates of responding found early and late in probe trials were increased by methylphenidate and 1.0 mg/kg d-amphetamine (rate-dependent effect). Further, the mean time of responding (peak time) was shortened for both drugs (timing effect).