The effect of the dopaminergic drugs amphetamine and pimozide on reinforced and non-reinforced species-typical responding was observed in normal mice and mice with lesions of the septal area. In Experiment 1 amphetamine increased wheel running in the reinforced groups with septal lesioned subjects showing greater enhancement than normal animals. Amphetamine depressed wheel running in non-reinforced septal animals and had no effect on non-reinforced normals. Pimozide decreased wheel running in all groups. In Experiment 2, amphetamine increased string pulling in reinforced normal and septal lesioned mice, but this increase was not dose dependent. Non-reinforced septal and normal animals exhibited amphetamine induced decreases in response rate. Again pimozide decreased string pulling in all groups.