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Which of the following drugs is most reinforcing, that is, the one that laboratory animals will work hardest to receive?

a) marijuana
b) heroin
c) cocaine
d) alcohol
e) LSD

User Sylma
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1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Laboratory animals will work hardest for cocaine due to its strong reinforcing properties, with the nucleus accumbens being critical in the rewarding effects of drugs, reinforcing drug-seeking behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

In seeking an answer to which of the following drugs is most reinforcing, where laboratory animals will work hardest to receive, it is well-documented that cocaine is among the highest in reinforcement potential. While drugs like marijuana, heroin, alcohol, and LSD do have reinforcing properties, cocaine is known to produce a rapid and intense euphoria, leading to high potential for reinforcement and addiction. Animal studies and reinforcement models show that animals will often perform tasks at a much higher rate when cocaine is the substance available as a reward.

Additionally, research has shown that the nucleus accumbens plays a critical role in the rewarding effects of drugs, reinforcing drug-seeking behavior in animals and humans. However, this drug reinforcement is distinct from the motivation to engage in the behavior, which may not be affected equally by the drug's presence.