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Human ethanol self-administration. I: The interaction between response requirement and ethanol dose
R Spiga1, M J Macenski, R A Meisch
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Behavioural Pharmacology
|February 1, 1997
Summary
This study shows that higher ethanol concentrations are more reinforcing, as participants consumed more at 16% even with increased work requirements. Lower ethanol doses were sensitive to response requirements, indicating dose-dependent reinforcing effects.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Understanding factors influencing human ethanol self-administration is crucial for addiction research.
- The reinforcing effects of ethanol are complex and can be modulated by various factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically examine the impact of work requirements on human ethanol self-administration.
- To determine the relative reinforcing efficacy of different ethanol concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Healthy volunteers with moderate alcohol consumption history participated.
- Participants self-administered ethanol solutions (4%, 8%, 16% w/v) under fixed-ratio (FR) schedules (FR 32, 64, 128).
- Ethanol consumption and response patterns were analyzed in relation to dose and response requirement.
Main Results:
- Ethanol consumption decreased with increasing FR for lower doses (4%, 8%).
- Consumption of the high ethanol dose (16%) remained high across all FR requirements, suggesting greater reinforcing efficacy.
- Ethanol consumption was sensitive to unit price, with 53-82% of variance explained.
Conclusions:
- Higher ethanol concentrations possess stronger reinforcing properties in humans.
- Response requirements can modulate ethanol intake, but this effect is dose-dependent.
- Economic principles, such as unit price, effectively predict ethanol consumption patterns.