Single-alternation patterning in sated, sucrose-rewarded rats

Abstract

Rats were runway trained six trials per day for 32 days with alternating values of sucrose rewards (32% and 4%), and an interval between trials of about 20 sec. The animals were trained without the motivation of hunger: they were allowed free access to food for 1.5 h prior to each training session. Patterning developed. Running times were faster, in the later stages of training, for 32% rewards than for 4% rewards. Patterning had not been observed in similar experiments with sucrose (Burns, 1976) and hunger-motivated rats.