Water regulation in the rat: Drive intensity and fixed ratio responding.

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Abstract
23. 5-hr. water-deprived rats, pressing on either FR5, FR10, or FR20, were given 3-hr. test sessions after intragastric loading [fixed response] of varying volumes of water or varying concentrations of NaCl solutions at a fixed volume. Rates of responding were found to be increasing monotonic functions of schedule and dehydration intensity. While number of reinforcements obtained in the test session was an increasing function of dehydration, that number was only marginally dependent on the reinforcement schedule and, thus, on work necessary to obtain reinforcements. It was concluded that the animal will do (within broad physiological limits) whatever work is necessary to restore the tissue deficit.

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