Abstract
Rationale: Although many studies have shown Pavlovian conditioned approach to cues paired with natural reinforcers, it has been quite difficult to induce such behavior with drug reinforcers. Objectives: This experiment tested a novel Pavlovian procedure for inducing approach to a conditioned stimulus (CS) paired with ethanol. Methods: Mice (NZB/B1NJ, DBA/2J) received intraperitoneal injections of ethanol (2 g/kg) immediately before 10-min exposure to a rectangular chamber that contained a distinctive visual cue (star) at one end (Paired group, CS+ trials). On alternate days, saline injection preceded apparatus exposure with no distinctive cues (CS- trials). Unpaired control mice received ethanol in the home cage 60-75 min after each CS+ trial. Results: NZB/B1NJ Paired group mice spent increasing amounts of time (>85% of the session) in proximity to the star, whereas Unpaired group mice did not. DBA/2J Paired group mice spent slightly more time on the star side than Unpaired group mice but did not show an acquisition curve. Postconditioning tests showed a strong preference for the star side in Paired groups from both strains after saline injection. However, only NZB/B1NJ mice showed a preference after ethanol. Conclusions: This study provides the first unambiguous demonstration of Pavlovian conditioned approach to an ethanol-paired visual stimulus in the absence of any contingency between the animal's behavior and drug exposure. This effect, which is remarkable both in terms of its magnitude and the rapidity with which it was produced (within 2-3 trials), may be related to the cue-associated craving that accompanies alcohol and drug addiction.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 231-241 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Psychopharmacology |
| Volume | 192 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 2007 |
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Keywords
- Autoshaping
- Conditioned approach
- Ethanol
- Inbred mice (NZB/B1NJ, DBA/2J)
- Locomotor activity
- Place conditioning
- Reward
- Sign-tracking
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
Cite this
Rapid induction of Pavlovian approach to an ethanol-paired visual cue in mice. / Cunningham, Christopher; Patel, Priya.
In: Psychopharmacology, Vol. 192, No. 2, 06.2007, p. 231-241.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Rapid induction of Pavlovian approach to an ethanol-paired visual cue in mice
AU - Cunningham, Christopher
AU - Patel, Priya
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - Rationale: Although many studies have shown Pavlovian conditioned approach to cues paired with natural reinforcers, it has been quite difficult to induce such behavior with drug reinforcers. Objectives: This experiment tested a novel Pavlovian procedure for inducing approach to a conditioned stimulus (CS) paired with ethanol. Methods: Mice (NZB/B1NJ, DBA/2J) received intraperitoneal injections of ethanol (2 g/kg) immediately before 10-min exposure to a rectangular chamber that contained a distinctive visual cue (star) at one end (Paired group, CS+ trials). On alternate days, saline injection preceded apparatus exposure with no distinctive cues (CS- trials). Unpaired control mice received ethanol in the home cage 60-75 min after each CS+ trial. Results: NZB/B1NJ Paired group mice spent increasing amounts of time (>85% of the session) in proximity to the star, whereas Unpaired group mice did not. DBA/2J Paired group mice spent slightly more time on the star side than Unpaired group mice but did not show an acquisition curve. Postconditioning tests showed a strong preference for the star side in Paired groups from both strains after saline injection. However, only NZB/B1NJ mice showed a preference after ethanol. Conclusions: This study provides the first unambiguous demonstration of Pavlovian conditioned approach to an ethanol-paired visual stimulus in the absence of any contingency between the animal's behavior and drug exposure. This effect, which is remarkable both in terms of its magnitude and the rapidity with which it was produced (within 2-3 trials), may be related to the cue-associated craving that accompanies alcohol and drug addiction.
AB - Rationale: Although many studies have shown Pavlovian conditioned approach to cues paired with natural reinforcers, it has been quite difficult to induce such behavior with drug reinforcers. Objectives: This experiment tested a novel Pavlovian procedure for inducing approach to a conditioned stimulus (CS) paired with ethanol. Methods: Mice (NZB/B1NJ, DBA/2J) received intraperitoneal injections of ethanol (2 g/kg) immediately before 10-min exposure to a rectangular chamber that contained a distinctive visual cue (star) at one end (Paired group, CS+ trials). On alternate days, saline injection preceded apparatus exposure with no distinctive cues (CS- trials). Unpaired control mice received ethanol in the home cage 60-75 min after each CS+ trial. Results: NZB/B1NJ Paired group mice spent increasing amounts of time (>85% of the session) in proximity to the star, whereas Unpaired group mice did not. DBA/2J Paired group mice spent slightly more time on the star side than Unpaired group mice but did not show an acquisition curve. Postconditioning tests showed a strong preference for the star side in Paired groups from both strains after saline injection. However, only NZB/B1NJ mice showed a preference after ethanol. Conclusions: This study provides the first unambiguous demonstration of Pavlovian conditioned approach to an ethanol-paired visual stimulus in the absence of any contingency between the animal's behavior and drug exposure. This effect, which is remarkable both in terms of its magnitude and the rapidity with which it was produced (within 2-3 trials), may be related to the cue-associated craving that accompanies alcohol and drug addiction.
KW - Autoshaping
KW - Conditioned approach
KW - Ethanol
KW - Inbred mice (NZB/B1NJ, DBA/2J)
KW - Locomotor activity
KW - Place conditioning
KW - Reward
KW - Sign-tracking
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247551856&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34247551856&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00213-007-0704-4
DO - 10.1007/s00213-007-0704-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 17265074
AN - SCOPUS:34247551856
VL - 192
SP - 231
EP - 241
JO - Psychopharmacology
JF - Psychopharmacology
SN - 0033-3158
IS - 2
ER -