Frustration is a behavioural, emotional, and neurobiological response triggered by the negative discrepancy between an expected and obtained reward, due to its devaluation or omission. Animal models and comparisons between inbred strains of rats are useful tools to study the contribution of genetic factors to the expression of phenotypic differences in such situations. The objective of this study was to compare strains that differ in emotional behaviour in their responses to reward devaluation (Exp 1) and omission (Exp 2): spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive rats Wistar Kyoto (WKY). During both experiments, the SHR rats showed significantly more intake responses during the acquisition phase. In the test phase of Exp 1, the SHR strain showed a slower recovery response. In Exp 2 there were no differences between strains. The more emotionally reactive strain (SHR) did not differ from its control (WKY) in the initial reaction to the reward devaluation but showed a slowed recovery on the consummatory response. These data are consistent with the literature that suggests that individual differences are more easily expressed in the recovery of the response (secondary frustration) in a situation that involves incentive devaluation.
Serafini, M., Ifran, M. C., Kamenetzky, G., & Cuenya, L. (2020). Phenotypic Differences in the Devaluation and Omission of an Expected Reward. Revista De Psicología, 29(2). https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-0581.2020.54743
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