Probability learning in rats reinforced with brain stimulation

Faster rates of discrimination learning with centrally elicited reinforcement than with food.

“…It is well established that electrical stimulation of particular brain sites is capable of acting as a reinforcing agent in learning paradigms requiring a discrimination of spatial (Olds, 1956;Spear, 1962), visual (Johnson, 1966(Johnson, , 1968Johnson & Levy, 1969;Keesey, 1964Keesey, , 1966Keesey & Lindholm, 1969;Kling & Matsumiya, 1962;Lindholm & Keesey, 1968;Terman & Kling, 1968), or auditory cues (Kling & Berkeley, 1968). In spite of its theoretical significance, however, few of these studies provide data relevant to the question of how brain-stimulation reinforcement compares to conventional reinforcers (e.g., food or water) in such learning situations.…”