Mendelson J
Science. 1967 Sep 1;157(3792):1077-9. doi: 10.1126/science.157.3792.1077.
It is well known that thirsty rats will press a lever for water. The purpose of the present experiment was to demonstrate that, when water is freely available, nonthirsty rats will press a lever for thirst. Three satiated rats, bearing permanently implanted electrodes, were trained to press a lever which caused stimulation to be applied to an area of the lateral hypothalamus which induces thirst. The animals were tested with and without water available. Two of the rats pressed the lever to induce thirst only when water was available. Thus, thirst-inducing stimulation was not rewarding by itself, but only in combination with drinking.
众所周知，口渴的大鼠会按压杠杆获取水。本实验的目的是证明，当水随时可得时，不口渴的大鼠会为了口渴而按压杠杆。三只饱足的大鼠，永久植入了电极，被训练去按压一个杠杆，按压该杠杆会导致对下丘脑外侧一个诱发口渴的区域施加刺激。对这些动物在有水和无水的情况下进行了测试。其中两只大鼠只有在有水时才会按压杠杆来诱发口渴。因此，诱发口渴的刺激本身并无奖赏作用，只有与饮水相结合时才有。
