Abstract
Negative (aversive) and positive (self-stimulation) intracranial reinforcement thresholds were determined in rats using a “double staircase” psychophysical procedure. Morphine raised aversive thresholds at all doses tested, while the drug lowered positive reinforcement thresholds at low or moderate doses. The results suggest the possible involvement of central motivational systems in the mediation of morphine-induced analgesia, the narcotic “high”, and narcotic addiction.
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This paper is based on a dissertation submitted by the first author in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Ph. D. degree in the Department of Psychology, Boston University, and was supported in part by grants MH 12568 and DA 00257 from the National Institute of Mental Health.
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Marcus, R., Kornetsky, C. Negative and positive intracranial reinforcement tresholds: Effects of morphine. Psychopharmacologia 38, 1–13 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421282
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421282