Analysis of a new nonnutritive positive reinforcer based on thirst.

Abstract

Air-drinking (licking at a stream of cool air) was shown to (a) act as reward for thirsty rats, but not for rats satiated with water, (b) be accompanied by weight loss, due to excessive loss of saliva by evaporation, (c) reduce subsequent consumption of water, and (d) reduce rate of bar pressing for water on a 1-min. VI schedule. It is hypothesized that rats fail to discriminate between the immediate sensory effects of drinking air and of drinking water, both of which cause a cooling of the mouth. The relation to other studies of oral stimulation and to theories of reinforcement is discussed. From Psyc Abstracts 36:05:5EL77H. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)