High impulsivity predicts the switch to compulsive cocaine-taking.
Both impulsivity and novelty-seeking have been suggested to be behavioral markers of the propensity to take addictive drugs. However, their relevance for the vulnerability to compulsively seek and take drugs, which is a hallmark feature of addiction, is unknown. We report here that, whereas high reactivity to novelty predicts the propensity to initiate cocaine self-administration, high impulsivity predicts the development of addiction-like behavior in rats, including persistent or compulsive drug-taking in the face of aversive outcomes. This study shows experimental evidence that a shift from impulsivity to compulsivity occurs during the development of addictive behavior, which provides insights into the genesis and neural mechanisms of drug addiction.
Belin
David
D
Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK. bdb26@cam.ac.uk
Mar
Adam C
AC
Dalley
Jeffrey W
JW
Robbins
Trevor W
TW
Everitt
Barry J
BJ
D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003192:Compulsive Behavior; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009043:Motor Activity; D051381:Rats; D012646:Self Administration
D003042:Cocaine