Figure 3. Modulation of instrumental responding for food.
a, Experimental design. AGRPChR2 mice were trained to lever press for food pellets. PR7 reinforcement testing was performed over 15 sessions on two groups: food-restricted (black, n=11) or ad libitum fed AGRP neuron photostimulated (cyan, n=11). During test sessions (120 min), levers were available for the first 40 minutes. The AGRP neuron photostimulated group received intracranial light pulses for the entire 120-min session. b, Lever presses in each session during PR7 reinforcement. c-e, Lever presses (c), pellets earned (d), and breakpoint ratio (e) from first (1) and last (15) PR7 reinforcement test sessions. f, Representative traces of cumulative lever pressing during first (1) and last (15) sessions. g, Rate of lever pressing during first 10 minutes of session (low effort reinforcement, filled circles) and rest of session (high-effort reinforcement, open circles) on first (1) and last (15) PR7 session. n.s. p>0.05, *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001. Values are means ± s.e.m. Statistical analysis in Extended Data Table 1.