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Published on: June 18, 2018
Cocaine self-administration in rats: discrete trials procedures
Carson V Dobrin1, David C S Roberts
1Neuroscience Program, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. cdobrin@wfubmc.edu
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|January 11, 2012
Summary
Discrete trials (DT) procedures offer a flexible method for studying self-administration behavior over 24-hour periods. This approach provides insights into daily variations and the effects of pretreatments on behavior.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Animal behavior
Background:
- Self-administration behavior is crucial for understanding drug addiction.
- Existing methods may not fully capture temporal patterns or treatment effects.
- A need exists for precise behavioral assessment over extended periods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate the discrete trials procedure for behavioral analysis.
- To demonstrate the utility of discrete trials for assessing diurnal variability.
- To highlight the application of discrete trials in evaluating pretreatment effects.
Main Methods:
- The discrete trials procedure divides self-administration sessions into distinct trials with inter-trial intervals.
- This method allows for continuous monitoring over 24-hour cycles.
- It is suitable for administering pretreatments to modulate behavior.
Main Results:
- Discrete trials enable detailed examination of diurnal patterns in self-administration.
- The procedure effectively assesses how pretreatments alter both high and low probability behaviors.
- This method provides high-resolution data on behavioral responses.
Conclusions:
- Discrete trials offer a robust and adaptable method for behavioral research.
- It enhances the understanding of temporal dynamics and pharmacological interventions in self-administration.
- This procedure is valuable for preclinical research in addiction and behavior modification.
