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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
Published on: February 18, 2016
Stimuli associated with a single cocaine experience elicit long-lasting cocaine-seeking
Roberto Ciccocioppo1, Rémi Martin-Fardon, Friedbert Weiss
1Department of Pharmacological Science and Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy. roberto.ciccocioppo@unicam.it
Abstract:
Epidemiological data suggest that cocaine dependence emerges rapidly, and most cocaine addicts meet criteria for dependence within 1-3 years after onset of drug use. Here we show that in rats, environmental stimuli associated with a single cocaine self-administration experience elicit strong cocaine-seeking that persists for up to one year. In contrast, conditioned stimuli that were associated with a highly palatable non-drug reinforcer elicited modest behavioral responses that extinguished within 3 months.
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