Nature of positive and negative incentive-motivational effects on general activity.

Abstract

REINFORCEMENT-LINKED OR INCENTIVE-MOTIVATIONAL CHANGES IN GENERAL ACTIVITY WERE STUDIED BY CLASSICALLY CONDITIONING THIRSTY RATS WITH CS+ (UCS: WATER) AND CS- (UCS: ELECTRIC SHOCK), AND, IN ANOTHER SITUATION MEASURING THEIR ACTIVITY IN THE PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF CSS. IN EXP. I, RATS WERE CONDITIONED WHILE HELD INACTIVE IN RESTRAINERS; IN EXP. II, THE INCIDENCE OF PERAMBULATION, GROOMING, AND SITTING WAS MEASURED; IN EXP. III, DRIVE LEVEL WAS VARIED. AS COMPARED TO CONTROL CONDITIONS, CS+ INCREASED EXPLORATORY PERAMBULATION AND CS- INCREASED MOTIONLESS SITTING. REDUCTION IN DRIVE DECREASED PERAMBULATION AND INCREASED GROOMING. INCENTIVE-MOTIVATIONAL STIMULI MAY INDUCE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CENTRAL STATES WHICH, TOGETHER WITH SITUATIONAL CUES, DETERMINE THE FORM OF ACTIVITY. (17 REF.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)