Another Failure to Obtain Negative Incentive Contrast following Reductions in Sucrose Reward

Abstract

The effects of reductions in volume only, concentration only, and volume plus concentration of sucrose rewards were studied in a discrete-trial (retractable bar) situation. There was no evidence of abrupt behavioral decrements or negative contrast effects associated with any type of reward reduction. The present results are in opposition to those obtained following variations in solid food rewards. These findings suggest that the effects of sucrose and solid food manipulations require different theoretical interpretations.