Adjunctive polydipsia as a model of alcoholism

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Addiction Research
• Animal Models of Disease

Background:

• Schedule-induced polydipsia, or adjunctive drinking, is a key animal model for studying alcoholism.
• Understanding factors that influence this behavior is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and evaluate procedures for controlling schedule-induced alcohol consumption in animal models.
• To identify promising strategies for managing alcohol intake within this experimental paradigm.

Main Methods:

• Review of physiological interventions (e.g., pre-loading, desalivation, altering solution palatability).
• Examination of pharmacological interventions (e.g., drug effects on drinking).
• Analysis of behavioral interventions (e.g., altering reinforcement schedules, response options, extinction termination).

Main Results:

• Physiological, pharmacological, and behavioral methods were assessed for their efficacy in modifying adjunctive drinking.
• Altering alcohol palatability and employing behavioral control strategies emerged as particularly effective.

Conclusions:

• Modifying alcohol palatability offers a direct approach to influencing consumption in this model.
• Behavioral interventions provide flexible and potentially potent methods for controlling excessive alcohol intake.
• These strategies hold promise for advancing research into alcoholism using the adjunctive drinking model.