Behavioral Tolerance

Synonyms

Conditioned tolerance; Contingent tolerance

Definition

Behavioral tolerance describes the diminution of a drug-induced disruption of a goal-oriented behavior that is dependent upon learning processes, i.e., performance of the behavior while intoxicated.

Impact of Psychoactive Drugs

Behavioral Tolerance

Tolerance refers to the diminution of a drug's effect with repeated dosing. In controlled laboratory settings, tolerance is measured by giving a drug repeatedly, and assessing a dependent measure as a function of drug history. In clinical settings, tolerance is inferred when a person reports that she/he thinks it currently takes a greater amount of drug to achieve an effect than it did when use of the drug first started. A modifier is often used to indicate a type of tolerance or a mechanism responsible for tolerance. Some modifiers are used to further describe the conditions under which tolerance is observed. For example, acute tolerance refers