title: Experimental protocols for behavioral imaging: seeing animal models of drug abuse in a new light.
abstract: Behavioral neuroimaging is a rapidly evolving discipline that represents a marriage between the fields of behavioral neuroscience and preclinical molecular imaging. This union highlights the changing role of imaging in translational research. Techniques developed for humans are now widely applied in the study of animal models of brain disorders such as drug addiction. Small animal or preclinical imaging allows us to interrogate core features of addiction from both behavioral and biological endpoints. Snapshots of brain activity allow us to better understand changes in brain function and behavior associated with initial drug exposure, the emergence of drug escalation, and repeated bouts of drug withdrawal and relapse. Here we review the development and validation of new behavioral imaging paradigms and several clinically relevant radiotracers used to capture dynamic molecular events in behaving animals. We will discuss ways in which behavioral imaging protocols can be optimized to increase throughput and quantitative methods. Finally, we discuss our experience with the practical aspects of behavioral neuroimaging, so investigators can utilize effective animal models to better understand the addicted brain and behavior.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Behavioral and Molecular Neuroimaging, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore - LIJ Health System, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Aarons
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talan
authors.forename: Wynne K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Schiffer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D059906:Neuroimaging; D020891:Raclopride / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D020891:Raclopride; D004298:Dopamine