A series of variously N-substituted 2-aminotetralins having OH groups at 5 and 6 and at 6 and 7 positions, as well as nonoxygenated systems, has been evaluated for central dopaminergic effects. Stereotypical behavioral effects (sniffing, compulsive gnawing, and hyperactivity) produced by direct intracerebral administration of some of the agents were shown to differ strikingly from responses resulting from peripheral administration. The centrally mediated responses of hyperactivity and sterotypical gnawing-biting head and limb movements were shown to be separable in some test compounds. An improved route to 2-aminotetralin systems has been utilized for some of the compounds, which involves Pummerer rearrangement and cyclization of beta-keto sulfoxides and reductive amination of beta-tetralones with a NaBH4-carboxylic acid complex.