Temporal integration: Modification of the incentive value of a food reward by early experience with deprivation.

Abstract

40 RATS WERE DIVIDED INTO 2 GROUPS AFTER WEANING. 1 GROUP WAS INCONSISTENTLY STARVED AND FED WHILE THE OTHER GROUP HAD FOOD CONSTANTLY AVAILABLE. AS ADULTS, THE EFFECT OF THE EARLY DEPRIVATION EXPERIENCE RESULTED IN FASTER ACQUISITION OF A POSITION RESPONSE AND IN A FOOD REWARD HAVING GREATER UTILITY, DEMONSTRATED BY THE AMOUNT OF SHOCK SS WOULD TAKE TO OBTAIN A FOOD REWARD. CHANGES IN THE ADULT LEVEL OF DEPRIVATION MODIFIED THE UTILITY OF THE FOOD REWARD FOR BOTH EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROL SS. ORDER OF THE VARIOUS ADULT TREATMENTS WAS NOT IMPORTANT. EVIDENCE FOR DRIVE DISCRIMINATION IS PRESENTED. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)