Since the introduction of buspirone, the 5-HT1A receptor has been a focal point for serotonergic research into the treatment of anxiety. Two of the more commonly used methodologies for evaluating potential anxiolytics are the Geller-Seifter model and the elevated plus maze. In the Geller-Seifter model, administration of 5-HT1A agonists produce an anxiolytic-like profile consisting of an increase in the number of responses made during the punished component. An anxiolytic-like response in the elevated plus maze consists of an increase in the number of entries and/or time spent in the open arms of the maze. Recently, there have been reports of differential drug effects with 5-HT1A ligands in the elevated plus maze depending on when in the diurnal cycle the 5-HT1A agents were administered. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the response to 5-HT1A compounds in normal and reverse light cycle animals in the Geller-Seifter model. 8-OH-DPAT [(+/-)-2-dipropylamino-8-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronapthalene] produced a decrease in unpunished responding and an increase in punished responding during both the light and dark phase. The administration of WAY 100,635 [N-¿2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl] ethyl¿-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide trihydrochloridel alone was without effect in both the light and dark phase. Furthermore, pre-treatment with WAY 100,635 completely antagonized both the rate-decreasing effects in the unpunished component and the increase in punished responding observed with 8-OH-DPAT during both the light and dark phase. The results of the current study diverge from previous findings of sensitivity to the diurnal cycle in other models reflective of modulation of the 5-HT1A receptor. The robustness of the response, in this case punished lever pressing, may be less sensitive than other more naturalistic or ethological methods (i.e. elevated plus maze) in detecting the subtle changes in receptor function due to the diurnal cycle.