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Memory processes governing amphetamine-induced psychomotor sensitization.

Stephan G Anagnostaras1, Timothy Schallert, Terry E Robinson

  • 1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. sanagno@emory.edu

Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
|May 15, 2002
PubMed
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Context influences psychomotor sensitization to amphetamine (AMPH). While drug-associated environments elicit sensitization, neutral environments suppress it, a suppression reversible by electroconvulsive shock (ECS), revealing context-dependent memory mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Pharmacology

Background:

  • Psychomotor sensitization to drugs like amphetamine (AMPH) can become context-specific.
  • Understanding the memory mechanisms underlying this context-specificity is crucial for addiction research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of memory and context in regulating the expression of psychomotor sensitization.
  • To determine if electroconvulsive shock (ECS) can alter context-specific sensitization by affecting memory consolidation or retrieval.

Main Methods:

  • Rats with dopamine depletion received repeated d-amphetamine (AMPH) or saline in distinct environments.
  • Electroconvulsive shock (ECS) was administered to disrupt drug-associated memories.
  • Rotational behavior was measured as an index of psychomotor activation.

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Main Results:

  • AMPH administration in a drug-paired context led to robust sensitization.
  • AMPH administration in a novel context did not elicit sensitization, indicating suppressed expression.
  • ECS treatment in the unpaired context released the suppressed sensitization, while having no effect in paired contexts or controls.
  • A conditioned response (CR) was observed in the drug-paired context following saline administration.

Conclusions:

  • Context-specific expression of AMPH sensitization is regulated by at least three memory mechanisms: non-associative learning of the drug's effect, inhibitory learning suppressing expression in non-drug contexts, and excitatory learning amplifying responses in drug-associated contexts.
  • These associative and non-associative memory processes provide powerful control over behavioral sensitization, potentially influencing craving and relapse in addicts.