A rat learns to press a lever when it receives a reinforcing item, such as a food pellet, upon each press. To learn the connection between the lever press and the receipt of the food pellet, the neurotransmitter ___________ is involved.
A) serotonin
B) norepinephrine
C) dopamine
D) acetylcholine
E) epinephrine

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dopamine is involved in reinforcing behaviors and the formation of associations between behaviors and rewards. In the scenario provided, the rat learns to press the lever because it receives a reinforcing item, which causes a release of dopamine in the brain. The release of dopamine strengthens the connection between the behavior of pressing the lever and the reward of receiving the food pellet, making it more likely for the rat to repeat the behavior in the future.

A Rat Learns to Press a Lever When It Receives