title: Animal models of extinction-induced depression: loss of reward and its consequences.
abstract: The absence or loss of rewards or reinforcers holds a major role in the development of depression in humans. In spite of the prevalence of extinction-induced depression (EID) in humans, few attempts have been made to establish animal models thereof. Here we present the concept of extinction-related depression and summarize the results of two sets of studies in our attempt to create animal models of EID, one set based on extinction after positive reinforcement in the Skinner-box, the other on extinction after negative reinforcement - escape from water. We found various behaviors emitted during the extinction trials that responded to treatment with antidepressant drugs: Accordingly, the important behavioral marker for EID during extinction of escape from the water was immobility. During extinction after positive reinforcement the important indices for extinction-induced depression are the withdrawal from the former site of reward, biting behavior and rearing up on the hind legs. Avoidance behavior and biting may model aspects of human depressive behavior, which may include withdrawal or avoidance as well as aggressive-like behaviors.
authors: Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Psychology, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: Huston@uni-duesseldorf.de.
authors: Joseph P
authors: JP
authors: Huston
authors: Maria A de Souza
authors: MA
authors: Silva
authors: Mara
authors: M
authors: Komorowski
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Schulz
authors: Bianca
authors: B
authors: Topic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012201:Reward
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Aggression; Animal model of depression; Antidepressants; Avoidance; Biting; Immobility; Operant conditioning; Rearing behavior; Water maze; Withdrawal