Date of Completion

10-14-2013

Embargo Period

10-14-2014

Major Advisor

John D. Salamone

Associate Advisor

Merce Correa

Associate Advisor

James J. Chrobak

Associate Advisor

R. Holly Fitch

Associate Advisor

Etan J. Markus

Field of Study

Psychology

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Open Access

Open Access

Abstract

Organisms frequently make effort-related decisions in order to overcome obstacles separating them from significant stimuli. Effort-related behavioral processes are an important aspect of motivation, and effort-related motivational dysfunctions can be critical symptoms of depression and other disorders. The current work explores the use of a novel operant task, the concurrent progressive ratio (PROG)/chow feeding choice task. Rats tested on the PROG/chow feeding task are given a choice between lever pressing on a progressive ratio for preferred food pellets vs. approaching and consuming the less preferred lab chow that is concurrently available.

Share

COinS