Associations between sensation seeking and d-amphetamine reinforcement

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Stimulant experimentation is common, but abuse and dependence develop in a subset.
• Sensation seeking (SS) is linked to stimulant abuse vulnerability.
• The predictive role of baseline SS on acute stimulant response requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between sensation seeking (SS) and stimulant (d-AMPH) choice and subjective effects.
• To determine if baseline SS predicts responses to acute stimulant administration in healthy adults.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of data from an outpatient laboratory study.
• Participants (16 males, 21 females) received repeated opportunities to sample and choose between d-AMPH (5, 10, 20 mg/70 kg) and placebo.
• Associations between baseline SS and d-AMPH choice/subjective response were analyzed.

Main Results:

• In males, higher baseline SS correlated with increased d-AMPH choice and positive subjective effects at 5 and 10 mg/70 kg.
• No significant associations were found between SS and d-AMPH choice or subjective effects in females.
• Results suggest sex-specific relationships between SS and stimulant response.

Conclusions:

• Elevated SS in males may indicate heightened sensitivity to d-AMPH reinforcement and positive subjective effects.
• Sensation seeking may not predict stimulant sensitivity in females, warranting further research with larger samples.
• Understanding individual differences in SS is crucial for identifying and intervening with individuals at risk for stimulant abuse and dependence.