Article
Neurosciences
Veronika Pohorala, Thomas Enkel, Dusan Bartsch, Rainer Spanagel, Rick E. Bernardi
Summary: Sign-tracking behavior may increase addiction vulnerability compared to goal-tracking, as shown by greater resistance to punishment in sign-tracking rats. Phenotyping based on Pavlovian conditioned approach (PCA) scores may not predict overall addiction-like behaviors measured using the 3-CRIT model, but could predict resistance to punishment.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
John Michael Holden
Summary: Relapse into addiction can be triggered by cues associated with drug use. Sign-tracking, the approach and interaction with Pavlovian conditioned signals, may contribute to cue-driven relapse. Bupropion, an antidepressant, was found to decrease sign-tracking and increase goal-tracking in rats, suggesting its potential as an adjunct medication for behavioral disorders involving cue-driven behavior.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Hadas Ahdoot-Levi, Ofri Croitoru, Tzofnat Bareli, Einav Sudai, Hilla Peer-Nissan, Avi Jacob, Iris Gispan, Rachel Maayan, Abraham Weizman, Gal Yadid
Summary: Research has shown that the neurosteroid DHEA has a long-lasting effect on reducing cocaine-seeking behavior and has a positive impact on hippocampal cell structure. The study emphasizes the critical role of astrocytes and neurons in overcoming addiction behavior.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Aaron Kucinski, Cassandra Avila, Martin Sarter
Summary: The study indicates that there are differences in cognitive-behavioral styles between sign tracking and goal tracking, with different projection systems influencing attentional performance. Goal tracking relies on basal forebrain activity and is associated with model-based performance.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
L. M. Cope, A. Gheidi, M. E. Martz, E. R. Duval, H. Khalil, T. Allerton, J. D. Morrow
Summary: Cue-based associative learning is a fundamental component of animal behavior and may be related to addiction liability. Previous research has shown significant individual differences in this type of learning in non-human animals. This study revealed the existence of sign-trackers, goal-trackers, and intermediate responders in humans, with impulsivity being a significant predictor of sign-tracking behavior.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Madison M. Marcus, S. Stevens Negus, Matthew L. Banks
Summary: Cocaine use disorder occurs in an environment where cocaine and other nondrug commodities are concurrently available. Preclinical drug-vs-nondrug choice procedures are one simplified method of modeling this complex clinical environment.
PHARMACOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Kevin R. Coffey, Vaishnavi Venkat, Mark O. West, David J. Barker
Summary: Neurons in the lateral preoptic area show varied responses to different components of drug self-administration. The majority of these neurons signal the operant response with increases in spiking activity.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Ali Gheidi, Christopher J. Fitzpatrick, Jordan D. Gregory, Jonathan D. Morrow
Summary: Acetylcholinergic antagonists have shown promise in reducing addiction-related behaviors, but the psychological mechanisms behind their effects remain unclear. This study investigates the selective effects of systemic antagonism of acetylcholine receptors on behavior in rats.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Jessica Hoepfner, Nina Keith
Summary: Research shows that failing a high and specific goal can have detrimental effects on an individual's affect, self-esteem, and motivation, which may be crucial for organizational long-term outcomes. Therefore, organizations should consider potential undesirable effects when using goal-setting interventions.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Brooke N. Bender, Mary M. Torregrossa
Summary: Intermittent access (IntA) models have been developed to mimic human cocaine use and have been shown to enhance pharmacological and behavioral effects of cocaine. This study examined sex differences and cue extinction in the IntA model. Results showed that IntA increased motivation for cocaine in females and facilitated punished cocaine self-administration in males. Additionally, after 10 days of IntA training, drug-seeking was dependent on DLS dopamine in males. These findings suggest that IntA is valuable for studying sex differences and early stages of drug use.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
E. Andrew Townsend, Kathryn L. Schwienteck, Hannah L. Robinson, Stephen T. Lawson, Matthew L. Banks
Summary: The study successfully transferred the intravenous drug-vs-food choice procedure from monkeys to male and female rats, and developed a surgical method suitable for long-term drug choice studies. Results showed that rats can be used to study drug choice behavior, and that choice behavior is stable in response to both environmental and pharmacological manipulations.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Salma Tannous, Florence Darlot, Martine Cador, Stephanie Caille
Summary: Flavor additives increase nicotine oral consumption and help maintaining operant behavior in mice. Moreover, flavors can be very attractive and can have high reinforcing value by themselves. Thus, it is crucial that the investigation on how taste signals play an important role in modulating oral nicotine intake in rodent models remains explored.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
John M. Holden
Summary: Memantine, a drug with antagonistic effects on N-methyl-D-aspartate and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine3 receptors, may be effective in reducing sign-tracking behavior and providing support to patients trying to overcome relapse and addiction. The study found that memantine acutely decreased sign-tracking and increased goal-tracking, with the strongest effects observed in sign-trackers and intermediates.
LEARNING AND MOTIVATION
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Youna Vandaele, S. H. Ahmed
Summary: The preference shift towards cocaine in animals is not solely due to the direct suppression of sweet reward responding by cocaine pharmacological effects, as tolerance to this behavioral suppression did not prevent the preference shift towards cocaine. Other mechanisms must be involved to explain the influence of cocaine intoxication on choice outcomes.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Biological
John M. Holden
Summary: This study examined the effectiveness of serotonergic anti-depressants in reducing sign-tracking behavior and preventing cue-triggered relapse. The results showed that these drugs were able to reduce sign-tracking behavior, although their effects on goal-tracking varied.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Sam A. McConnell, Adam J. Brandner, Brandon A. Blank, David N. Kearns, George F. Koob, Leandro F. Vendruscolo, Brendan J. Tunstall
Summary: This study utilized a model of opioid vapor self-administration combined with a behavioral economics approach to investigate motivational changes in rats with chronic exposure to fentanyl vaporization. The results showed that rats with extended access to self-administration of vaporized opioid demonstrated behavioral economic metrics consistent with development of an addiction-like state. This combination of models opens new avenues to study dysregulated motivational processes in substance use disorders.
Article
Neurosciences
Richard Quintana-Feliciano, Christina Gobin, Louisa Kane, Bo Sortman, Samantha Rakela, Ariana Genovese, Brendan Tunstall, Daniele Caprioli, Sergio D. Iniguez, Brandon L. Warren
Summary: The study found that neuronal ensembles in the infralimbic cortex develop after prolonged food self-administration training, with evidence of rats learning the response as early as day 1 and increasing quickly. Neuronal activation within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) appears to encode initial food self-administration memories, and inactivation of mPFC ensembles significantly decreased food seeking behavior, indicating their functional relevance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara L. Deschaine, Mehdi Farokhnia, Adriana Gregory-Flores, Lia J. Zallar, Zhi-Bing You, Hui Sun, Deon M. Harvey, Renata C. N. Marchette, Brendan J. Tunstall, Bharath K. Mani, Jacob E. Moose, Mary R. Lee, Eliot Gardner, Fatemeh Akhlaghi, Marisa Roberto, James L. Hougland, Jeffrey M. Zigman, George F. Koob, Leandro F. Vendruscolo, Lorenzo Leggio
Summary: Alcohol decreases ghrelin levels in both rats and humans, but this decrease is not in proportion to alcohol's caloric value or through direct interaction with the ghrelin system.
Article
Neurosciences
M. Adrienne McGinn, Brendan J. Tunstall, Joel E. Schlosburg, Adriana Gregory-Flores, Olivier George, Giordano de Guglielmo, Barbara J. Mason, Hazel J. Hunt, George F. Koob, Leandro F. Vendruscolo
Summary: The study demonstrated the potential of GR modulators in reducing alcohol consumption, with different effects observed in different circumstances. These findings provide insights for the development of treatments for AUD.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caroline B. Pantazis, Luis A. Gonzalez, Brendan J. Tunstall, Stephanie A. Carmack, George F. Koob, Leandro F. Vendruscolo
Summary: Environmental stimuli paired with withdrawal cues can promote motivation for opioids and lead to substance consumption. Patients with chronic pain may misuse opioids to escape pain. Sex differences may influence withdrawal-induced stress reactivity and withdrawal cue processing.
Article
Neurosciences
Renata C. N. Marchette, Adriana Gregory-Flores, Brendan J. Tunstall, Erika R. Carlson, Shelley N. Jackson, Agnieszka Sulima, Kenner C. Rice, George F. Koob, Leandro F. Vendruscolo
Summary: The study found a functional role for KORs in heroin withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia that is observed in rats of both sexes, with females requiring a higher dose of heroin to reach similar levels of analgesia and hyperalgesia compared to males. KOR antagonists were effective in reversing heroin withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia, with different durations of effects between males and females. The levels of KOR antagonists in the brain correlated with their behavioral effects, and different KOR antagonists had varied effects on naloxone-induced and spontaneous signs of opioid withdrawal in both male and female rats.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF STRESS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Rajtarun Madangopal, Leslie A. Ramsey, Sophia J. Weber, Megan B. Brenner, Veronica A. Lennon, Olivia R. Drake, Lauren E. Komer, Brendan J. Tunstall, Jennifer M. Bossert, Yavin Shaham, Bruce T. Hope
Summary: The study demonstrates that following discrimination training during abstinence, DS+ and DS- can independently control the expression and suppression of cocaine seeking. It is found that the infralimbic subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex plays a critical role in driving the relapse to cocaine seeking after prolonged abstinence.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
David C. Yeomans, Leah R. Hanson, Dean S. Carson, Brendan J. Tunstall, Mary R. Lee, Alexander Z. Tzabazis, Daniel Jacobs, William H. Frey
Summary: The study found that intranasal oxytocin can reach the brain via the olfactory and trigeminal neural pathways, but the addition of a mucoadhesive did not enhance its concentration in the brain.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jillian H. Broadbear, Ronan Y. Depoortere, Kristina Vacy, David Ralph, Brendan J. Tunstall, Adrian Newman-Tancredi
Summary: NLX-101 and F13714 are selective, full efficacy, biased agonists of the serotonin (5-HT1A) receptor with distinct profiles in behavioral models. F13714 fully substitutes for the training dose of 8-OH-DPAT with high potency, while NLX-101 achieves full substitution at a higher dose and also activates presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors. The discriminative cue produced by 0.1 mg/kg i.p. 8-OH-DPAT results from activation of presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors.
BEHAVIOURAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Madeline M. Beasley, Tommy Gunawan, Brendan J. Tunstall, David N. Kearns
Summary: Recently, it has been suggested that the intermittent access (IntA) drug self-administration procedure may better reflect addiction-related behavioral changes compared to the long access (LgA) procedure. This study compared the effects of IntA and LgA training on motivation for a saccharin reinforcer and found that IntA training resulted in greater motivation. This suggests that stimulus-reinforcer associations learned during IntA training may contribute to increased motivation.
LEARNING & BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mehdi Farokhnia, Christopher T. Rentsch, Vicky Chuong, M. Adrienne McGinn, Sophie K. Elvig, Eliza A. Douglass, Luis A. Gonzalez, Jenna E. Sanfilippo, Renata C. N. Marchette, Brendan J. Tunstall, David A. Fiellin, George F. Koob, Amy C. Justice, Lorenzo Leggio, Leandro F. Vendruscolo
Summary: Spironolactone can reduce the intake of alcohol solutions in mice and the self-administration of alcohol in rats. In humans, those who received spironolactone showed a greater reduction in alcohol consumption compared to those who did not receive the medication.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Madeline M. Beasley, Brendan J. Tunstall, David N. Kearns
Summary: The IntA self-administration procedure has been found to result in intensified addiction-like behavior compared to ContA procedures. Previous studies have used between-subjects designs, while the present study used a within-subjects design to compare IntA and ShA procedures for cocaine self-administration. The results showed that rats escalated cocaine intake in the IntA context and exhibited increased cocaine motivation in the IntA context compared to the ShA context.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Grey A. Gage, Marissa A. Muench, Changhoon Jee, David N. Kearns, Hao Chen, Brendan J. Tunstall
Summary: The study found that intermittent access to self-administered alcohol is associated with more intense alcohol consumption, which can be used to develop preclinical models of binge-like alcohol consumption in Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD). Researchers successfully trained rodents to have intermittent access to alcohol, gradually shortening the duration of access periods, resulting in more intensified drinking behavior. This research method is of great significance for understanding the mechanisms of alcohol use disorders and binge drinking behavior.
Meeting Abstract
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mehdi Farokhnia, Christopher Rentsch, Vicky Chuong, Adrienne McGinn, Sophie Elvig, Eliza Douglass, Jenna Sanfilippo, Renata Marchette, Brendan Tunstall, David Fiellin, George Koob, Amy C. Justice, Lorenzo Leggio, Leandro Vendruscolo
PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Substance Abuse
B. J. Tunstall, L. Gonzales, J. C. M. Vendruscolo, L. J. Zallar, S. A. McConnell, C. P. Ho, G. F. Koob, L. F. Vendruscolo
ALCOHOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Radwa H. Lutfy, Sherine Abdel Salam, Haitham S. Mohammed, Marwa M. Shakweer, Amina E. Essawy
Summary: Insufficient sleep is associated with impaired hypothalamic activity and declined attentional performance. This study found that near-infrared (NIR) laser therapy can alleviate the effects of sleep deprivation on the hypothalamus, enhance antioxidant status, suppress neuroinflammation, and regulate cellular activity.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Durmus Ali Aslanlar, Emin Fatih Visneci, Mehmet Oz, K. Esra Nurullahoglu Atalik
Summary: Mood disorders caused by chemotherapy have become more important as cancer patients' survival increases. This study used methotrexate to induce mood disorders in rats and found that treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can alleviate anxiety and depression-like behaviors, increase antioxidant capacity, reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and regulate brain chemistry. The findings suggest that NAC treatment could be an effective strategy in revising the treatment for individuals suffering from chemotherapy-induced mood disorders.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Yunfan Zhang, Yunbin Zhang, Zhuangfei Chen, Ping Ren, Yu Fu
Summary: This study systematically investigated the effects of extremely low intensity HF-rTMS on cognition in mice and found that 40 Hz rTMS significantly impaired exploratory behavior and spatial memory at both 10 mT and 1 mT conditions. Additionally, 40 Hz stimulation had remarkably different effects on exploratory behavior depending on intensity, compared to 10 Hz stimulation.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xuan Xuan, Guangling Zheng, Wenjia Zhu, Qionghua Sun, Yawei Zeng, Juan Du, Xusheng Huang
Summary: This study examines the functional characteristics of the cerebellum in individuals with sALS and their correlation with clinical data. The results show changes in both local and global functional connectivity in the cerebellum of sALS patients, suggesting a pathophysiological role of the cerebellum in sALS.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mehdi Rezaei, Mohammad Mahdi Shariat Bagheri
Summary: This study examined the efficacy of tDCS for PTSD and related symptoms, as well as the factors that may predict response to tDCS. The results showed that tDCS had a positive effect in reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and anhedonia. The severity of symptoms at baseline may also predict the response to tDCS.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Huimin Wu, Yiqun Guo, Yaoyao Zhang, Le Zhao, Cheng Guo
Summary: Aggression can have serious consequences, but little is known about its personality and neurological origins in children. This study investigated the relationship between self-esteem, aggression, and brain structure in healthy children, and found that self-esteem was negatively associated with aggression. The study also revealed that increased cortical thickness in certain brain areas may be a potential mechanism linking low self-esteem to aggression in children.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xinmei Deng, Kexin Chen, Xiaoming Chen, Lin Zhang, Mingping Lin, Xiaoqing Li, Qiufeng Gao
Summary: Parental involvement affects the relationship and communication between parents and adolescents. This study found that high parental involvement is associated with stronger brain-to-brain synchrony during shared positive emotional experiences, while low parental involvement is associated with stronger synchrony during shared negative emotional experiences.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xin Deng, I. -Shuo Huang, Kourtlin Williams, Marcy L. Wainwright, Paul Zimba, Riccardo Mozzachiodi
Summary: Food deprivation can lead to neurological dysfunctions, including memory impairment. This study used Aplysia as an animal model to investigate the memory deficits caused by prolonged food deprivation. The results showed that 14 days of food deprivation decreased the level of 5-HT in the hemolymph, which contributed to the lack of sensitization and its cellular correlates. However, exogenous application of 5-HT partially induced sensitization in the food deprived animals.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ihori Kobayashi, Patrick A. Forcelli
Summary: The study found that intervention with the dual orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant did not have the expected effects on extinction memory and sleep. Higher percentages of REM sleep were associated with poorer extinction memory recall and stronger fear responses. Additionally, the fear extinction training protocol used in this study did not lead to complete fear extinction.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jiyan Xu, Xinlu Chen, Shuai Liu, Ziqi Wei, Minhui Xu, Linhao Jiang, Xue Han, Liangyu Peng, Xiaoping Gu, Tianjiao Xia
Summary: This study investigated the effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) on oxidative stress and cognitive function in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) mice. The results showed that NMN pretreatment reduced oxidative stress damage and alleviated cognitive impairment in POCD mice.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Song Liu, Qiang Wu, Liyue Wang, Cong Xing, Junrui Guo, Baicao Li, Hongpeng Ma, Hao Zhong, Mi Zhou, Shibo Zhu, Rusen Zhu, Guangzhi Ning
Summary: In this study, a systematic assessment indicator was developed to objectively evaluate hindlimb motor function recovery in rats after thoracic contusion SCI. By screening CatWalk XT gait parameters and using exploratory factor analysis, 38 suitable parameters for assessing motor function were identified. A reliable Coordinated Function Index (CFI) was proposed based on these parameters and simplified for improved assessment efficacy.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Kyosuke Shiga, Shota Miyaguchi, Yasuto Inukai, Naofumi Otsuru, Hideaki Onishi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on microscale learning in implicit motor tasks. Contrary to expectations, the results showed that the stimulation protocol had no significant effects on microscale learning, revealing a novel aspect of microscale learning in implicit motor tasks.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Cahide Aslan, Rahime Aslankoc, Ozlem Ozmen, Buse Nur Suluk, Oguzhan Kavrik, Nurhan Gumral
Summary: This study examined the negative effects of high fructose corn syrup on prefrontal cortex damage in adolescent rats, as well as the protective role of vitamin D.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Matin Baghani, Arad Bolouri-Roudsari, Reyhaneh Askari, Abbas Haghparast
Summary: The study suggests that the orexinergic system in the dentate gyrus region of the brain may act as an endogenous pain control system and a potential target for treating stress-related disorders.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sen Zhou, Yang Liu, Binbin Xue, Peigen Yuan
Summary: This study confirmed that low-dose Esketamine alleviates LPS-induced depressive symptoms by regulating the GSK-3 beta/NLRP3 pathway. Appropriate doses of Esketamine are essential for the treatment of depression in the clinical setting.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
