Question

Olds and Milner accidentally discovered the reinforcement centers of the brain when they were:______________. a. Conducting a conditioned place aversion experiment b. Discovered accidental placement of electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle produced a place aversion c. Discovered accidental placement of electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle produced a place preference d. A&C

Answer 1

Answer: d. A&C

Explanation:

James Olds and Peter Milner´s discovery of reinforcement centers of the brain happened by accident in 1954.

They implanted an electrode inside a rat's brain, with the intention of stimulating the reticular system, when the rat, placed inside a box, approached a certain place. They expected the rat to eventually avoid that place.

However, the electrode curved off its expected course and landed near the hypothalamus, and the rat´s behavior indicated the brain stim­ulation was pleasurable.