ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Ethanol Drinking
;
Ethanol Reinforcement
;
Fixed-Ratio Size
;
Food Deprivation
;
Rats
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Rats having prior experience with ethanol drinking were subjected to geometrically increasing fixed-ratio (FR) schedules of ethanol reinforcement (8% W/V). The rats were tested first food deprived and then food satiated. Each third day ethanol was the reinforcer (0.25 ml/reinforcement), while on other days water, which served as the vehicle control, was available. Food satiating the rats decreased responding for ethanol whereas responding for water was not changed. Under both food conditions ethanol maintained responding at FR's up to 256 with response totals exceeding water control values. As the FR size increased to intermediate values, the number of ethanol responses increased. Further FR increases resulted in decreases in ethanol responding. The pattern of FR responding was similar to that maintained by other reinforcers. Maximum ethanol responding occurred at the beginning of the 6-h sessions, followed by a pause and then intermittent bursts of responding. Water responding was not characterized by a specific pattern. It was inferred that the odor of ethanol functioned as a discriminative stimulus, and it was concluded that ethanol served as a reinforcer for the rat.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00421402
Permalink
