When rats were trained to press a lever in order to get a buzz of electricity delivered through tiny electrodes to the ________, some rats would press the bar for hours at a time until they collapsed from exhaustion.
A) temporal lobes
B) parietal lobes
C) reticular activating system
D) hypothalamus

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating various bodily functions, such as hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior. It has been shown that when rats are trained to press a lever to receive electrical stimulation to the hypothalamus, they will continue to do so until they collapse from exhaustion. This suggests that the stimulation of the hypothalamus is highly rewarding and can override the normal homeostatic mechanisms that regulate behavior.

When Rats Were Trained to Press a Lever in Order