1956— Joseph V. Brady's article "Assessment of Drug Effects on Emotional Behavior" was published in Science. The article reported the selective effects of reserpine on anxiety responses and was followed by the establishment of behavioral pharmacology laboratories at virtually every major U.S. pharmaceutical company. Reserpine is in a class of medications called rauwolfia alkaloids. It works by slowing the activity of the nervous system, causing the heartbeat to slow and the blood vessels to relax. Because of the development of better drugs for these purposes and because of its numerous side-effects, it is rarely used today.
To read and understand how reserpine works go to Reserpine: MedlinePlus Drug Information
Street, W.R. (1994) Month day in Psychology. A Chronology of Noteworthy Events in American Psychology. Retrieved June 8, 2016 from American Psychological Association Historical Database Web site at Central Washington University: http://www.cwu.edu/~warren/calmmdd.html