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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
10:28
Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
Published on: February 18, 2016
Cocaine-induced conditioned taste avoidance over extended conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus intervals
1Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA. kf6802a@american.edu
Behavioural Pharmacology
|September 20, 2005
Summary
Long-delay learning in taste avoidance conditioning is not limited to emetic compounds. Cocaine, a non-emetic drug, also supports this learning, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Long-delay learning in conditioned taste avoidance (CTA) is well-documented, but primarily with emetic unconditioned stimuli.
- Non-emetic compounds, including drugs of abuse, can also induce CTA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if cocaine, a non-emetic psychoactive drug, can support long-delay conditioning in a CTA paradigm.
Main Methods:
- Rats received saccharin (conditioned stimulus) paired with cocaine (unconditioned stimulus) at various delays (10-540 min).
- Two conditioning trials were followed by six extinction trials.
- A control group received a vehicle injection.
Main Results:
- All cocaine-treated groups showed significantly reduced saccharin consumption compared to controls.
- The magnitude of taste avoidance decreased as the conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus interval increased.
- Avoidance persisted even after extinction trials for shorter intervals (10, 60, 120 min).
Conclusions:
- Cocaine supports long-delay taste avoidance learning, extending beyond emetic compounds.
- Long-delay learning appears to be a general characteristic of CTA, not specific to emetics.
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