[1][2] Preliminary psychopharmacological research in 1978 was unable to conclusively determine the compound's classification regarding dopamine-receptor activity.

[3] On one hand, investigative studies found evidence of behavior traditionally associated with dopamine-receptor stimulation: stereotypy, increase in spontaneous motor activity, inhibition of conditioned avoidance response, and an increase in pain sensitivity resulting in an inhibition of morphine analgesia.

[3] On the other hand, these early investigative studies also found evidence of behavior traditionally associated with dopamine-receptor blockade: decrease of spontaneous motor activity, chills, catalepsy, trance-like states of consciousness.

[3] Nuciferine has been reported to have various anti-inflammatory effects, possibly mediated via PPAR delta activation.

[5] In rodent models relating to antipsychotic drug effects, Nuciferine has shown various actions such as blocking head-twitch responses and discriminative stimulus effects of a 5-HT2A agonist, enhancing amphetamine-induced locomotor activity, inhibiting phencyclidine (PCP)-induced locomotor activity, and restoring PCP-induced disruption of pre-pulse inhibition without inducing catalepsy.