The bidirectional effects of shock on alcohol preference in rats

Rats given a choice between a 5% alcohol solution and water will dramatically increase alcohol preference on the days following experience with inescapable electric footshocks, compared with unshocked animals. Although, total alcohol preference did not differ during shock days, an interaction occurred between shock stress and alcohol preference. Rats that initially preferred alcohol decreased alcohol preference during shock days, whereas, rats that initially avoided alcohol increased alcohol preference during shock days. Therefore, the stress of inescapable electric footshock has bidirectional effects on alcohol preference. These bidirectional effects depend on the temporal dynamics of alcohol consumption in relation to the shock experience and the initial alcohol preference.