Abstract
Schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP) occurred in four rats placed on concurrent food (1 min VI) and water (CRF) reinforcement schedules. During extinction (i.e. absence) of concurrent food reinforcement either water or an ethanol concentration of 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32% (w/v) was present. Measurements of water and ethanol intake were made before and after substituting these ethanol concentrations for water during SIP. After ethanol experience during SIP, the ethanol volume consumed and ethanol reinforcements obtained were significantly greater than water control values. Thus, ethanol served as a reinforcer. At ethanol concentrations of 32% (w/v) through 2% (w/v), volumes consumed exceeded water control values. Following ethanol experience during SIP, ethanol volume intake and reinforcements significantly increased. However, the magnitude of the increase was not significant when the initial values, i.e., those obtained prior to ethanol experience, were significantly greater than water control values. The quantity of ethanol intake increased directly with the concentration, and the highest rate of intake occurred during the first half hour ethanol was available.
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This research was supported in part by Research Grants MH-15349 and MH-14112 from the United States Public Health Service to the University of Minnesota. We thank Dr. Glenn E. Bartsch for his advice concerning the statistical analysis of the data.
U.S.P.H.S. Postdoctoral Research Fellow 1 FO 2 MH 467700-1.
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Meisch, R.A., Thompson, T. Ethanol intake in the absence of concurrent food reinforcement. Psychopharmacologia 22, 72–79 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401469
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401469