Pavlovian Conditioned-Reinforcer Training as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Choice

Impulsive choice is associated with a host of human maladaptive behaviors warranting investigations aimed at reducing impulsive choice. Pavlovian conditioning was explored in 22 male Wistar rats. The experimental group was exposed to a stimulus that signaled a large delay-reduction to an food, whereas the control group experienced a stimulus that was controlled by a random schedule that did not predict food. Subsequently, a test of conditioned reinforcement was conducted, indicating a difference in conditioning between groups. Finally, a test of impulsive choice failed to find effects of training on impulsive choice.