Cocaine decreases self-control in rats: a preliminary report.
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.
Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794.
A W
AW
Logue
H
H
Tobin
J J
JJ
Chelonis
R Y
RY
Wang
N
N
Geary
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Schachter
D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
D005473:Fluoxetine; D003042:Cocaine