Prior schedule exposure reduces the acquisition of schedule-induced polydipsia.
Two groups of rats were given different initial histories before exposing them to daily, 2-hr fixed-interval 1-min (FI 1-min) food-pellet sessions with water freely available. For the initial-history phase (approximately 17 weeks), a Schedule-History Group had no water available during FI 1-min sessions, while a Home-Cage-History Group was maintained at the same body weight (80% of free feeding) in home cages. When water then became available for both groups during FI 1-min sessions, the Schedule-History Group was retarded in their rate of acquisition and final level of schedule-induced polydipsia relative to the Home-Cage-History Group. Substitution of 5% ethanol solution for session water in the final phase produced a like intake level for both groups typical for these inducing conditions. It was concluded that the probability of drinking water in a session situation is reduced by a lengthy history of water unavailability, thereby attenuating the acquisition rate and final level of schedule-induced water overdrinking.
Tang
M
M
Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.
Williams
S L
SL
Falk
J L
JL
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule