PSYC 211 Chapter Notes - Chapter 18: Locus Coeruleus, Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex, Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1
8 Sep 2016
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If a behaviour is regularly followed by an appetitive stimulus, that behaviour is reinforced. If an addictive drug is taken by fast-acting route (ie iv), the last action (injecting) is particularly reinforced. Effect of a reinforcing stimulus is greatest if it occurs right after a behaviour/ response. Reason: instrumental conditioning involves learning about consequences of behaviour; if cause and effect times are separated, the learning is less effective. Logan: hungry rats trained to run through a maze to one of 2 corridors- one where they were given more food but w/ slight delay, or one where they were given less but immediately. Immediacy of reinforcement took precedence over quantity; rats ran to the latter corridor. Drug users prefer heroin to morphine simply because it has a more rapid effect; a rush . The use of methadone for opiate addiction and nicotine patches are based on this principle.
