DRL performance, extinction, and secondary reinforcement: Role of appetitive value of food in mice with septal lesions.

Conducted 5 experiments with a total of 116 B6D2F-sub-1/J mice. Normal Ss and Ss with septal lesions were trained on a DRL 8-sec schedule for food reinforcement varying in incentive value. Dilution of diet increased the number of reinforcements received by Ss with septal lesions. In Exps II and III the effects of septal lesions on resistance to extinction after continuous reinforcement training and the strength of secondary reinforcement were investigated. Changes in reinforcement value modified the septal lesion effects in both cases. All 3 experiments demonstrated the alteration of the septal lesion effect through a change in the appetitive value of the reinforcement. Results suggest that one of the mechanisms by which septal lesions impair DRL performance is an enhancement of reinforcing properties of food. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)