Response strength as a function of hours of food deprivation under a controlled maintenance schedule.

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Abstract
A model for motivation is proposed in which drive is postulated to be function of the strength of the anticipatory goal reaction, which is controlled by sources of external and internal stimulation. One implication of the model is that drive is not a monotonically increasing function of hours'' deprivation but rises to a maximum at or beyond the time of deprivation employed in the maintenance schedule and then decreases with increased motivation. Rats were kept on a 22-hour food-maintenance schedule for approximately five weeks. The distribution of food-trough depressions during a test interval of 46-hour deprivation and the response speeds in a straight alley maze for sub-groups of 15, 22, 25 and 37 hours of deprivation support the theory. An alternative explanation based on factors of inanition was discussed.".

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