An observational analysis of the effects of four kappa-opioid agonists on forward locomotion, rearing and grooming displayed by rats in a novel open field was undertaken. The doses of agonists used corresponded to those previously found to produce changes in food consumption. Ethylketocyclazocine (0.1 and 1 mg/kg), bremazocine (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg) and tifluadom (0.3 and 3 mg/kg) exerted suppressant effects on all the activities monitored. Grooming behaviour appeared to be particularly sensitive to this action, being virtually abolished by the larger doses of these compounds. In contrast, the selective kappa agonist U-50,488H (0.1-3 mg/kg) only attenuated grooming at the two highest doses tested (1 and 3 mg/kg). None of the agonists tested produced stimulation of open field activity during the 1-h study. Reductions in activity occurred at doses previously found to increase and decrease food intake. It was therefore concluded that the hyperphagia induced by kappa agonists was not part of a more general behavioural activation, whilst reductions in food consumption probably result from a non-specific behavioural depression.