Stimuli associated with a single cocaine experience elicit long-lasting cocaine-seeking.
Epidemiological data suggest that cocaine dependence emerges rapidly, and most cocaine addicts meet criteria for dependence within 1-3 years after onset of drug use. Here we show that in rats, environmental stimuli associated with a single cocaine self-administration experience elicit strong cocaine-seeking that persists for up to one year. In contrast, conditioned stimuli that were associated with a highly palatable non-drug reinforcer elicited modest behavioral responses that extinguished within 3 months.
Ciccocioppo
Roberto
R
Department of Pharmacological Science and Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy. roberto.ciccocioppo@unicam.it
Martin-Fardon
Rémi
R
Weiss
Friedbert
F
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D051381:Rats; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors
D003042:Cocaine