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Conditioned suppression with cocaine as the unconditioned stimulus
C W Schindler1, E B Thorndike, J D Ma
1Preclinical Pharmacology Section, Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, NIH/NIDA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|January 19, 2000
Summary
Rats learned to associate a tone-light stimulus with cocaine, showing reduced food-seeking behavior. This conditioned suppression effect was strongest with higher cocaine doses and specific timing, suggesting a useful model for studying drug conditioning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Psychopharmacology
Background:
- Drug conditioning is a key area in understanding substance use disorders.
- Classical conditioning principles are often studied using animal models.
- Cocaine's effects can be classically conditioned, influencing behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of a conditioned-suppression procedure for studying cocaine's effects.
- To determine the dose-dependent effects of cocaine in a conditioned-suppression paradigm.
- To explore the influence of interstimulus interval on cocaine conditioning.
Main Methods:
- Rats were trained using a conditioned-suppression paradigm with food reinforcement.
- A tone-light stimulus was paired with intravenous cocaine administration (0-5.6 mg/kg).
- Response suppression during the conditioned stimulus was measured, with variations in interstimulus interval tested.
Main Results:
- Cocaine (3.0 and 5.6 mg/kg) paired with the stimulus produced significant conditioned suppression of responding.
- Suppression was dose-dependent and extinguished when the stimulus was presented alone.
- The most robust conditioning occurred with a 60-second interstimulus interval.
Conclusions:
- The conditioned-suppression procedure effectively models the classically conditioned effects of cocaine in rats.
- This paradigm demonstrates robust conditioning comparable to other drugs and reinforcers.
- The model offers a valuable tool for further research into drug conditioning mechanisms.