Reduction of cocaine seeking by a food-based inhibitor in rats.
Environmental stimuli can exert a powerful influence over drug seeking and taking. For example, previous experiments found that combining multiple drug-related stimuli tripled drug seeking and doubled drug intake (L. V. Panlilio, S. J. Weiss, & C. W. Schindler, 1996, 2000), whereas a signal for the absence of cocaine (i.e., a drug-related inhibitor) dramatically reduced cocaine seeking in rats by over 90% (D. N. Kearns, S. J. Weiss, C. W. Schindler, & L. V. Panlilio, 2005). In the present experiment, a signal for the absence of food created through the A+/AB- conditioned inhibition paradigm also suppressed responding for cocaine by approximately 90%. Symmetrically, a signal for the absence of cocaine (i.e., a cocaine-based inhibitor) suppressed food seeking to a similar degree. These findings, consistent with the appetitive-aversive interaction theory of motivation, suggest that using inhibitors based on nondrug appetitive reinforcers might be a practical method of reducing drug seeking in human drug abusers and should be seriously considered for clinical test and application.
Weiss
Stanley J
SJ
Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA. sweiss@american.edu
Kearns
David N
DN
Christensen
Chesley J
CJ
Huntsberry
Mary E
ME
Schindler
Charles W
CW
Panlilio
Leigh V
LV
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D003463:Cues; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D003042:Cocaine