Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026
07:51
A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
Published on: June 18, 2018
10.2K
Differences in social interaction- vs. cocaine reward in mouse vs. rat
Kai K Kummer1, Lena Hofhansel1, Constanze M Barwitz1
1Experimental Psychiatry Unit, Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
|November 5, 2014
Summary
This study found that mice show a weaker preference for social interaction compared to rats, with cocaine being a much stronger reward for mice. This suggests the experimental paradigm is more relevant for mouse models of addiction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Social interaction is a potent reward, capable of reversing conditioned place preference (CPP) for cocaine in rats.
- The conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm is a valuable tool for studying reward and addiction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate a concurrent social interaction versus cocaine CPP paradigm in C57BL/6 mice.
- To assess the translational potential of this paradigm for genetically modified mouse models.
Main Methods:
- Rats and C57BL/6 mice underwent concurrent conditioning with social interaction and cocaine.
- Place preference and aversion were measured, along with time spent in direct social contact.
- Relative reward strength of cocaine versus social interaction was calculated.
Main Results:
- Fewer mice (71%) developed social interaction CPP compared to rats (85%).
- Mice spent significantly less time in direct social contact (17%) than rats (79%).
- Cocaine reward strength was 300-fold higher in mice than in rats during concurrent conditioning.
Conclusions:
- C57BL/6 mice exhibit a lower preference for social interaction and a higher susceptibility to cocaine reward compared to rats.
- The concurrent CPP paradigm for social interaction versus cocaine has greater translational relevance in mice for addiction research, especially with transgenic models.
