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Are the rats making a positive choice?

Posted by juliet2 on 21 Sep 2013 at 17:59 GMT

Hi, My learned friend who has an Oxford Msc and PhD in science has recently cited this link as proving that rats find sugar (sucrose) more addictive than cocaine and thus that it could also be highly addictive to humans in the same way. I was used to setting up and critiquing simple psychology experiments at university and was always aware that nothing is proved without a suitable control experiment. In this case I have not been able to find any situation you describe which proves that the rats are not avoiding the cocaine (in my opinion a sensible choice) rather than making a positive sugar choice: to "get a high". Such a control could be a choice between cocaine and another liquid or substance that is pleasant but not suspected to be addictive for rats. Please can you explain where your version of such a control exists in this experiment?

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RE: Are the rats making a positive choice?

kdarwish replied to juliet2 on 22 Sep 2013 at 05:47 GMT

Not sure about the opening line of your comment, referring to someone with diplomas from somewhere, but the remainder of your comment raises a very important consideration, what might be the taste perception of the cocaine test solution? Rodents also develop aversion to certain taste sensations.

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RE: Are the rats making a positive choice?

Ulysse replied to juliet2 on 23 Sep 2013 at 07:23 GMT

Please read the paper first, then I will be more than happy to address your questions...

No competing interests declared.