The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Motivation for alcohol assessed by multiple variable interval schedule behaviour: effects of reward size and alcohol cues

Motivation for alcohol assessed by multiple variable interval schedule behaviour: effects of reward size and alcohol cues
Motivation for alcohol assessed by multiple variable interval schedule behaviour: effects of reward size and alcohol cues
Altered motivation for drugs of abuse is a central feature of most definitions of drug dependence and the impact of drug-related cues on motivation is of current interest. However, since most studies of cue-reactivity have not used behavioural measures of motivation, their results are often difficult to interpret in motivational terms. In the current paper we describe two experiments in which a behavioural technique, based on multiple variable interval (VI) schedules of reinforcement, was used to study motivation for alcohol in human subjects. In both experiments, subjects attended for several sessions and, during each session, were exposed to a 6-ply VI schedule (values ranged from 1 to 720 s), during which they earned points that were later exchanged for a preferred beer or lager. In Experiment 1 the procedure was validated by showing that changes in the magnitude of reinforcement altered behaviour appropriately. In Experiment 2 we found evidence that the presence of an alcohol-related cue increased the value of alcohol rewards. The results are discussed with reference to a model for the behavioural effects of drug-related cues in triggering relapse and a number of problems we found in using the multiple variable interval schedule procedure.
0955-8810
81-89
Glautier, S.
964468b2-3ad7-40cc-b4be-e35c7dee518f
Rigney, U.
3cce0d68-c981-4fcf-b319-0f85cfeaa4e9
Willner, P.
d543ec28-56c0-41e1-8c0b-1b08ca71ed68
Glautier, S.
964468b2-3ad7-40cc-b4be-e35c7dee518f
Rigney, U.
3cce0d68-c981-4fcf-b319-0f85cfeaa4e9
Willner, P.
d543ec28-56c0-41e1-8c0b-1b08ca71ed68

Glautier, S., Rigney, U. and Willner, P. (2001) Motivation for alcohol assessed by multiple variable interval schedule behaviour: effects of reward size and alcohol cues. Behavioural Pharmacology, 12 (2), 81-89.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Altered motivation for drugs of abuse is a central feature of most definitions of drug dependence and the impact of drug-related cues on motivation is of current interest. However, since most studies of cue-reactivity have not used behavioural measures of motivation, their results are often difficult to interpret in motivational terms. In the current paper we describe two experiments in which a behavioural technique, based on multiple variable interval (VI) schedules of reinforcement, was used to study motivation for alcohol in human subjects. In both experiments, subjects attended for several sessions and, during each session, were exposed to a 6-ply VI schedule (values ranged from 1 to 720 s), during which they earned points that were later exchanged for a preferred beer or lager. In Experiment 1 the procedure was validated by showing that changes in the magnitude of reinforcement altered behaviour appropriately. In Experiment 2 we found evidence that the presence of an alcohol-related cue increased the value of alcohol rewards. The results are discussed with reference to a model for the behavioural effects of drug-related cues in triggering relapse and a number of problems we found in using the multiple variable interval schedule procedure.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 2001

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 18599
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/18599
ISSN: 0955-8810
PURE UUID: c733008e-0704-45e4-b9d4-d2b9cc1c01f3
ORCID for S. Glautier: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8852-3268

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 01 Dec 2005
Last modified: 09 Jan 2022 02:55

Export record

Contributors

Author: S. Glautier ORCID iD
Author: U. Rigney
Author: P. Willner

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×