Facilitation of schedule-induced behavior

Abstract

Sixteen food-deprived Norway rats were run on a standard schedule-induced polydipsia training schedule until drinking was stable. Subjects were then assigned randomly to receive a 5-day, 2-week,4-week, or lO-weekdelay before reacquiring polydipsia. No differences were obtained for milliliter consumed during acquisition or reaquisition except for an increase in milliliter consumed for the 5•day delay group during reacquisition. The implications of this result are interpreted in light of expected results.

Schedule-induced behavior in rats: Pellets versus powder

“…These results were somewhat surprising because the acquisition and maintenance of schedule-induced polydipsia is conceived of as being primarily dependent on food deprivation, amount of food per reinforcement, and schedule of reinforcement (Falk, 1971). In fact, scheduleinduced polydipsia is known for its robust nature and persistence under a variety of other conditions (Shearon & Allen, 1984;Wetherington, 1982). Consequently, we decided to pursue the issue, hoping that in the course of discovering why little drinking occurs in hungry rats fed powder on a schedule (powder rats), we might have a better understanding of why polydipsia occurs in hungry rats fed pellets on a schedule (pellet rats).…”