December 1954 PMID 13233369

Positive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of rat brain.

J OLDS, P MILNER

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Mentions

45
Peak: 6 in Feb 2023
across 6 sources since Apr 2020

Extended reach

173,769
potential audience

Total likes

30

Video views

326

Mentions per month

Apr 2020 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter16 posts
  • News15 articles
  • Blogs8 articles
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions show high interest through mentions of rats choosing self-stimulation over food and historical references like Olds and Milner's experiments, emphasizing curiosity and appreciation. Words like 'seminal,' 'famous experiments,' and references to neural reward circuits demonstrate a respectful engagement with the study's importance and potential implications.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions reference the historical importance and findings of the study, indicating general agreement with its relevance.

InterestHigh interest

Multiple posts display curiosity and enthusiasm, especially when mentioning how rats preferred stimulation over food, demonstrating high interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments include mentions of the methodology, historical context, and implications, reflecting moderate engagement beyond surface responses.

ImpactModerate impact

Some posts highlight the foundational role of the study in understanding brain reward systems, suggesting a recognition of its influence, but not overwhelming significance.

Abstract in brief

  • The study explores how electrical stimulation of the septal area and other parts of the rat brain can act as a positive reinforcement, encouraging the rats to repeat certain behaviors.
  • Results suggest that when specific brain regions are stimulated, rats are more likely to perform actions that lead to such stimulation, indicating these areas play a role in reward and motivation.
  • The findings contribute to understanding how electrical stimulation influences behavior, which could have implications for studying brain reward systems and potential treatments for behavioral or neurological issues.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Umberto León Domínguez
@umbertoleon · X

Seminal study: La auto-estimulación intracraneal es una conducta operante en la que el animal se auto-administra una estimulación eléctrica en regiones cerebrales involucradas con el reforzamiento positivo https://t.co/LutzgWgMSa

Nov 9, 2022 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 5,326 followers View post →
Daniel Fulford
@FulfordDr · X

As my kids choose to forgo their favorite lunch item for a little more iPad time, I'm reminded of the studies by Olds and Milner in which rats choose self-stimulation of the septal area over life-sustaining chow https://t.co/RueDQPdjpJ https://t.co/gckZbjHuTC

Apr 13, 2020 · 5 likes · 950 followers View post →
Gustavo Plotnikow
@GAPlotnikow · X

@mdeambrosio @humbertodebat En este estudio de hace muchos años, las ratas llegaron a pulsar 2 veces x seg una palanca para estimular un circuito del placer... Incluso morían por placer

Feb 28, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 3,084 followers View post →
lowkey_jpgm
@lowkey_jpgm · X

@ClownWorld_ Olds, J., & Milner, P. (1954). Positive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of rat brain. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 47(6), 419–427. https://t.co/EU6pshp0T4

Nov 5, 2022 · 2 likes · 87 followers View post →
Maxine
@maxine.science · Bluesky

psycnet.apa.org/record/1955-...

Apr 21, 2025 · 2 likes View post →
La Science, CQFD
@ScienceCQFD · X

[L'article à découvrir] 1954 > Positive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of rat brain https://t.co/pPJENt9KlO via #JournalOfComparativeAndPhysiologicalPsychology #LaMethSci

Aug 30, 2021 · 1 like · 57,857 followers View post →

All mentions

Neural Mechanisms of Reward and Motivation in Rats

This video explores how electrical stimulation of specific brain regions in rats acts as positive reinforcement, encouraging behavior repetition. The findings deepen understanding of brain reward systems and their role…

ProwerWolf · Jan 29, 2025 119 views
Maxine
@maxine.science · Bluesky

psycnet.apa.org/record/1955-...

Apr 21, 2025 · 2 likes View post →
It's an Urban Legend
@ULTweets · X

@mattdsegal @lumpthought (Here’s the paper: https://t.co/grZgj27TRz) https://t.co/HNgWELvrSI

Jul 7, 2023 · 1 like · 8,201 followers View post →
Martín De Ambrosio
@mdeambrosio · X

RT @GAPlotnikow: @mdeambrosio @humbertodebat En este estudio de hace muchos años, las ratas llegaron a pulsar 2 veces x seg una palanca par…

Feb 28, 2023 · 1 share · 8,218 followers View post →
Gustavo Plotnikow
@GAPlotnikow · X

@mdeambrosio @humbertodebat En este estudio de hace muchos años, las ratas llegaron a pulsar 2 veces x seg una palanca para estimular un circuito del placer... Incluso morían por placer

Feb 28, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 3,084 followers View post →
zyberEtika
@zyberetika · X

The famous experiments on rat brain control, by James Olds and Peter Milner https://t.co/sWZRJGF0GO

Feb 19, 2023 · 70,456 followers View post →
福本悠樹 (Yuki Fukumoto) | 関西医療大学
@fukumoto_kansai · X

ラットの脳内に電極を埋め込み、ラットがレバーを押すと、電極に短時間の弱い電気刺激が起こる。埋め込まれた電極の位置(腹側被蓋野に沿った領域) の関係で、電気刺激は快刺激を産んだため、ラットはレバーを次々に押して自分自身を刺激するようになった https://t.co/BjQlepuZFk

Feb 16, 2023 · 2,353 followers View post →
'Just Janice'
@Midnight_In_DC · X

RT @Midnight_In_DC: @replicantpinky @NIMHDirector @thinktank #MassShootings

Feb 15, 2023 · 1 share · 1,310 followers View post →
'Just Janice'
@Midnight_In_DC · X

@replicantpinky @NIMHDirector @thinktank #MassShootings

Feb 15, 2023 · 1 like · 1 share · 1,310 followers View post →
AFF
@Anaponfe64 · X

RT @umbertoleon: Seminal study: La auto-estimulación intracraneal es una conducta operante en la que el animal se auto-administra una esti…

Nov 9, 2022 · 2 shares · 233 followers View post →
Dyz̶er Nihil ψ
@Dyzer_Nihil · X

RT @umbertoleon: Seminal study: La auto-estimulación intracraneal es una conducta operante en la que el animal se auto-administra una esti…

Nov 9, 2022 · 2 shares · 1,249 followers View post →
Umberto León Domínguez
@umbertoleon · X

Seminal study: La auto-estimulación intracraneal es una conducta operante en la que el animal se auto-administra una estimulación eléctrica en regiones cerebrales involucradas con el reforzamiento positivo https://t.co/LutzgWgMSa

Nov 9, 2022 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 5,326 followers View post →
lowkey_jpgm
@lowkey_jpgm · X

@ClownWorld_ Olds, J., & Milner, P. (1954). Positive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of rat brain. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 47(6), 419–427. https://t.co/EU6pshp0T4

Nov 5, 2022 · 2 likes · 87 followers View post →
Robert Blum (lab)
@Blum_Ro1 · X

@DrPhilipMosley @andreashorn_ Here a suggestion from 1954,...took quite until it was tested in humans. "Positive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of rat brain. - PsycNET" https://t.co/fcQG2doqaf

Aug 20, 2022 · 122 followers View post →
La Science, CQFD
@ScienceCQFD · X

[L'article à découvrir] 1954 > Positive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of rat brain https://t.co/pPJENt9KlO via #JournalOfComparativeAndPhysiologicalPsychology #LaMethSci

Aug 30, 2021 · 1 like · 57,857 followers View post →
Jordan James Etem
@JordanJamesEtem · X

@Nasdaq @InvescoUS Olds, J., Milner, P.: Positive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of rat brain. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 47, 419–427 (1954) $PAYX $MSFT $INTU $FISV $DLTR $ADBE $AMZN $AMGN $CTAS $CTXS @JordanJamesEtem

Aug 14, 2021 · 12,648 followers View post →
Bstnglb
@bstnglb · X

@belzedaro 興味が出たので少し調べてみました。ラットの研究はPositive reinforcement produced by electrical stimulation of septal area and other regions of rat brain. ですかね。上記論文タイトルを直訳すると「正の強化」ですが、やはり「教化」が正しいですか?

Aug 31, 2020 · 1 like · 21 followers View post →
Daniel Fulford
@FulfordDr · X

As my kids choose to forgo their favorite lunch item for a little more iPad time, I'm reminded of the studies by Olds and Milner in which rats choose self-stimulation of the septal area over life-sustaining chow https://t.co/RueDQPdjpJ https://t.co/gckZbjHuTC

Apr 13, 2020 · 5 likes · 950 followers View post →