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Updated: Nov 15, 2025
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Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
Published on: March 17, 2019
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Noradrenergic contributions to cue-driven risk-taking and impulsivity.
Chloe S Chernoff1, Tristan J Hynes2, Catharine A Winstanley3
1Department of Psychology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215, Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada. chloe.chernoff@alumni.ubc.ca.
Psychopharmacology
|March 2, 2021
Summary
Noradrenaline (NA) system modulation shows promise for treating gambling disorder (GD). Drugs like atomoxetine and guanfacine improved decision-making and reduced impulsivity in a rodent gambling task, suggesting therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pharmacology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Gambling disorder (GD) is linked to casino cues impacting the noradrenaline (NA) system.
- NA's role in GD impulsivity is known, but its effect on cue-induced "pro-addiction" is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate NA's role in decision-making and impulsivity using the cued rat gambling task (crGT).
- Evaluate noradrenergic drugs in both male and female rats due to prominent sex differences in addiction.
Main Methods:
- Rats were trained on the crGT.
- Administered atomoxetine (NA reuptake inhibitor), guanfacine (α2A agonist), propranolol (beta antagonist), and yohimbine (α2 antagonist).
Main Results:
- Atomoxetine dose-dependently improved decision-making.
- Guanfacine enhanced decision-making in specific male and female groups.
- Atomoxetine and guanfacine reduced premature responses (motor impulsivity).
- Yohimbine had a biphasic effect on motor impulsivity.
Conclusions:
- NA modulates cue-induced deficits in decision-making within gambling paradigms.
- Atomoxetine and guanfacine show potential as treatments for gambling disorder.
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