Individual differences in novelty-induced activity do not predict strength of amphetamine-induced place conditioning.
A rat's level of activity while in a novel chamber has been shown to predict the likelihood that rat will learn to self-administer low doses of amphetamine (10). In a series of four experiments employing the place conditioning paradigm, a rat's level of activity when placed in a novel chamber was used to predict its sensitivity to the rewarding properties of low doses of amphetamine. In phase 1 of each experiment, rats were divided into high responders (HRs) and low responders (LRs) on the basis of activity level while in a novel chamber. In phase 2, rats were given place conditioning trials (one to four trials) with amphetamine (0.75-10 mg/kg). Although amphetamine-induced place preferences were consistently demonstrated, activity in a novel chamber did not predict the strength of a preference formed for an amphetamine-paired place. The failure of these experiments to support similar investigations using the self-administration paradigm [e.g., (10)], suggests that caution be used in generalizing between paradigms believed to measure similar processes.
Erb
S M
SM
Wilfrid Laurier University, Psychology Department, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Parker
L A
LA
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004777:Environment; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration
D000661:Amphetamine