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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents
Published on: September 10, 2018
Opioid-reinforced operant behavior: selective suppression by alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine
Abstract:
Morphine-addicted rats performed operant responses for opioid or milk rewards. When rats were then denied access to opioids, abstinence symptoms developed. Responding under extinction conditions 2 wk. after opioid withdrawal provided a measure of the "relapse" tendency. Systemic administration of DL-alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine, an inhibitor of catecholamine synthesis, suppressed these responses if they had been reinforced by an opioid but not if they had been established with milk reinforcement. This indicates that the integrity of the catecholamine systems is vital for relapse to occur.
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