Giorgio A. Ascoli a1andKevin A. McCabe a2 a1 Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, Psychology Department, and Neuroscience Program, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444; ascoli@gmu.eduhttp://krasnow.gmu.edu/L-Neuron a2 Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, Economics Department, and School of Law, George Mason University, Arlington, VA 22201. kmccabe@gmu.eduhttp://www.neuroeconomics.net
As prototypical incentive with biological meaning, food illustrates the distinction between money as tool and money as drug. However, consistent neuroscience results challenge this view of food as intrinsic value and opposite to drugs of abuse. The scarce availability over evolutionary time of both food and money may explain their similar drug-like non-satiability, suggesting an integrated mechanism for generalized reinforcers.
