Involvement of catecholamine neurotransmission in the rat anterior cingulate in effort-related decision making.
This study examined whether catecholamine-mediated signals in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) contribute to effort-based decision making. Rats were tested after 6-hydroxydopamine or vehicle infusions into the ACC in a T maze cost-benefit task in which the rats could choose either to climb a barrier to obtain a high reward in one arm or run into the other arm without a barrier to obtain a low reward. Results demonstrate that infusions of 6-hydroxydopamine induced a near total loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive fibers in the ACC. Unlike sham-lesioned rats, 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats exhibited a reduced preference for the high-cost-high-reward response option when given the choice of obtaining a low reward with little effort. Thus, catecholamine-mediated signals in the ACC could play a role in effort-based decision making.
Schweimer
Judith
J
Department of Animal Psysiology, Biological Institute, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
Saft
Simone
S
Hauber
Wolfgang
W
D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D002395:Catecholamines; D016627:Oxidopamine