Abstract
Rats were given alternating 1-min access to two tubes containing sucrose solutions that varied in concentraton (32% vs. 2%, 32% vs. 4%, 32% vs. 8%, and 32% vs. 16%). Lick rate for 32% sucrose was higher when the alternative tube contained a lower concentration solution than when both tubes contained 32% (a positive-contrast effect), and lick rate for the lower concentration solution (2%, 4%, 8%, or 16%) was lower when the alternative tube contained 32% than when both tubes contained the lower concentration solution (negative contrast effect). Proportion of licks made for 32% under contrast conditions tended to match the proportion of concentration available from that tube. Regression analysis of the ratio of licks made to the two tubes under contrast conditions as a function of ratio of concentrations available indicated a good fit to a power function with an exponent of 1.13, within the range of those typically found in human magnitude estimation studies of relative sweetness.
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Flaherty, C. F., Wrightson, J., Deptula, D., & Duston, C.Conditions under which gustatory contrast is influenced by chlordiazepoxide. Manuscript submitted for publication.
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This research was supported by a grant from the Rutgers Research Council and by a Biological Research Support grant.
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Flaherty, C.F., Sepanak, S.J. Bidirectional contrast, matching, and power functions obtained in sucrose consumption by rats. Animal Learning & Behavior 6, 313–319 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209620
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209620