Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
13:24
A Procedure to Observe Context-induced Renewal of Pavlovian-conditioned Alcohol-seeking Behavior in Rats
Published on: September 19, 2014
Concurrent-chains schedules as a method to study choice between alcohol-associated conditioned reinforcers.
Corina Jimenez-Gomez1, Timothy A Shahan
1Department of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. c.jimenez-gomez@auckland.ac.nz
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|January 31, 2012
Summary
Rats
Area of Science:
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
Background:
- Choice behavior is influenced by temporal context.
- Concurrent-chains schedules reveal how stimuli gain reinforcing value.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alcohol-associated stimuli using the concurrent-chains procedure.
- To determine if temporal context affects the reinforcing value of alcohol cues.
Main Methods:
- Rats were trained on concurrent-chains schedules with alcohol as a reinforcer.
- Terminal-link schedules varied alcohol delivery ratios; initial-link durations were manipulated.
Main Results:
- Rats' choices reflected the value of alcohol delivery in terminal links.
- Preference for the richer alcohol source decreased with longer initial-link durations (initial-link effect).
Conclusions:
- The conditioned reinforcing value of alcohol-associated stimuli is context-dependent.
- The concurrent-chains procedure is a viable framework for studying drug-associated conditioned reinforcers.
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