2 PROCEDURES FOR TRAINING DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSES IN ALCOHOL AND NONDURG CONDITIONS

Two simple efficient procedures, automatically programmed in standard operant test chambers, are described for training rats to a high degree of response differentiation solely on the basis of the perceptual or sensory alterations caused by a drug. Rapid learning of differential approach and avoidance responses occurred with a Conflict procedure whereby hungry rats received food reward in one condition (1.2 g./kg. ethyl alcohol for seven animals, saline for seven animals) and shock in the other condition, after every fifth lever press. With a Choice procedure, a separate group of hungry rats learned to press preponderantly the food‐rewarded lever during the initial, unreinforced portion of sessions in which they received food reward on an intermittent schedule for presses on one lever in the alcohol condition (left‐hand lever for four animals, right‐hand lever for four animals) and for presses on the other lever in the saline condition. Copyright © 1969 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company