This black and white educational film “Chemistry of Behavior” presents an introduction to the field of psychopharmacology, showing how drugs are tested and how subjects’ behavior is measured to test the efficacy of treatment. It is part of a 16mm film series created by Mayer-Sklar Productions for the National Educational Television Film Service in 1963, titled “Focus on Behavior: The Science of Psychology.” It was informed by an Advisory Committee from the American Psychological Association, and features Doctors Roger Russell and Sebastian Grossman with host John Darley, PhD.
This installment was produced by Mitchell Grayson, written by Lynn Rhodes Mayer, and directed by Herman J. Engel with a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Films in the series utilized footage from other organizations including: Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., International Film Bureau, Smith Kline & French Laboratories, and the Pasadena Foundation for Medical Research.
Executive Producers Harold Mayer and Michael Sklar produced a previous series for CBS titled “Conquest” (1957-1960) about the history of scientific advancement. They received a 1960 Gold Medal from the American Psychological Foundation for their film, “The Brain Story.”
A female patient seated on a hospital bed, is questioned by a physician. She introduces herself in voice-over, and is depicted before and after treatment (0:07).
Cross-dissolves illustrate her transformation (0:36). Opening credits over nurses in a hospital (0:57). Host John Darley introduces himself and asks how psychoactive drugs work to help the mentally ill (1:23). Dr. Roger Russell is introduced as Chairman of the Psychology Dept. at the University of Indiana (2:04). Dr. Russell speaks about behavior and side effects from an office desk (2:12). A white rat is placed into a maze with a timer (3:22). A drugged rat follows suit (4:25). Rat is placed into water to measure escape response (5:32). A drugged rat doesn’t fare as well (5:48). A squirrel monkey in a collar and leash paws at another test device (6:08). The woman reappears in her “before” state (6:33). Another woman walks through a psych ward (6:45). Index cards labeled “drugs” and “behavior” are presented (7:46). A graph of behavior over time is drawn (8:13). A “biochemical events” card is inserted (9:27). Microphotography of a culture of animal brain cells (9:35). An undrugged rat in a box with an electrified base leaps to a safe platform. The platform is electrocuted and the rat returns to the floor (10:40). A rat under the influence of cholinesterase keeps returning to the shock platform (12:13). A young boy in a diaper, diagnosed with phenylketonuria, is helped to walk by a woman in glasses (14:15). A man raises the boy’s arms while another man observes (14:24). The boy eats (14:36). A young girl with PKU stands steady and makes marks on paper (14:40). Dr. Sebastian Grossman from the State University of Iowa is introduced (15:30). A poster charts a cross-section of the brain (15:48). A cannula needle is held in hand, then pocketed (16:51). Rat with a cannula and tube implanted in its brain. Nurse removes then replaces the tube (17:07). Rat is placed into a glass box with pellets and a water dispenser; it ignores them (17:27). A crystal substance is placed in the tube (17:43). The rat begins to eat pellets (18:26). A rat in a box with levers for food and water taps for pellets (18:48). With a different drug, the rat seeks water (19:38). A woman pets a bicolor cat (20:38). The cat, now drugged, paws aggressively at a padded glove (21:00). Two male test subjects recline while a male doctor places electrodes on one of their stomachs (21:57). An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) monitor charts their activity (22:45). A black loudspeaker sounds a shrill note (22:58). Subject presses black button (23:36). Doctor brings the subject a pill and a Dixie cup of water (25:35). ECG responds (26:19). Our host replaces a pill bottle in a cabinet then wraps up (27:11). End credits over nurses retrieving bottles from the cabinet and walking the halls (27:42).
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
