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Cocaine decreases self-control in rats: a preliminary report

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Abstract

Cocaine abuse is often associated with behavior that takes into account short-term, but not long-term consequences. However, there has been no empirical research concerning the effects of cocaine on self-control (choice of a larger, more delayed reinforcer over a smaller, less delayed reinforcer). In the present research, when food-deprived rats repeatedly chose between a larger, more delayed food reinforcer and a smaller, less delayed food reinforcer, chronic intraperitoneal injections of 15 mg/kg cocaine (but not 10 mg/kg fluoxetine) decreased the rats' choices of the larger, more delayed reinforcer. Cocaine can decrease rats' self-control.

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Logue, A.W., Tobin, H., Chelonis, J.J. et al. Cocaine decreases self-control in rats: a preliminary report. Psychopharmacology 109, 245–247 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245509

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245509

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