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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Novel Apparatus and Method for Drug Reinforcement

Novel Apparatus and Method for Drug Reinforcement

Published on: August 20, 2010

Monetary alternative reinforcers more effectively decrease intranasal cocaine choice than food alternative

William W Stoops¹, Joshua A Lile, Craig R Rush

¹University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Science, 140 Medical Behavioral Science Building, Lexington, KY 40536-0086, USA.

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior

|January 30, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Money as a reinforcer effectively reduced cocaine choice in a laboratory setting, outperforming food reinforcers. This finding has implications for developing more effective treatments for cocaine dependence.

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Science
Addiction Research
Neuroscience

Background:

Cocaine dependence is a major public health issue.
Contingency management, using alternative rewards for abstinence, shows promise in reducing cocaine use.
Laboratory studies confirm that alternative reinforcers decrease cocaine self-administration.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of monetary and food reinforcers on cocaine choice.
To determine the effect of varying monetary values ($0.01-$1.00) on cocaine choice.
To compare the efficacy of money versus food as alternative reinforcers for cocaine.

Main Methods:

Participants made choices between intranasal cocaine (30 mg) and placebo.
Alternative reinforcers (money or food) were available at different values.
Cocaine choice was measured under conditions with different reinforcer types and values.

Main Results:

Cocaine was preferred over placebo across all tested reinforcer types and values.
Monetary alternative reinforcers significantly suppressed cocaine choice compared to food reinforcers.
The effectiveness of reinforcers varied with type and value.

Conclusions:

Money appears to be a more potent alternative reinforcer than food for reducing cocaine use in this model.
Future research should explore contingency management's behavioral sensitivity and food's potential as a human reinforcer.