SCHEDULE-INDUCED DRINKING FACILITATES SCHEDULE-CONTROLLED FEEDING

Four food-deprived rats barpressed with food reinforcement on a 1-min fixed-interval schedule in 7-h sessions with water either present or absent. They all became polydipsic, drinking after many pellets early in sessions but after fewer pellets later in sessions. Pellets were secured at near maximum rates for about 3 h. Thereafter, the three heaviest drinkers obtained more food with water than without it. The results indicate that schedule-induced drinking does not continue indefinitely and that it can be adaptive with regard to feeding. © 1979 Psychonomic Society, Inc.