title: Altered performance in a rat gambling task after acute and repeated alcohol exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A bidirectional relationship between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and deficits in impulse control and decision making has been suggested. However, the mechanisms by which neurocognitive impairments predispose to, or result from AUD remain incompletely understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to gain more insight in the effects of alcohol exposure on decision making and impulse control. We used two modified versions of the rat gambling task (rGT) that differ in the net gain and the punishment magnitude associated with the different response options.
  
  
  METHODS
  In experiment 1, we assessed the effects of acute alcohol treatment (0-0.8 g/kg) on rGT performance. In experiment 2, we determined the effects of alcohol on rGT acquisition (15 sessions, 0.6 g/kg). Next, these animals were challenged with alcohol (0-1.0 g/kg) prior to rGT sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute alcohol treatment suppressed baseline performance in both rGT versions but only modestly altered decision making. Treatment with alcohol during acquisition increased risky choices in the rGT version that involved larger punishment and blunted the reduction in win-shift behavior during acquisition in both rGT versions. Moreover, rats treated with alcohol during acquisition showed an increase in premature and perseverative responding upon subsequent alcohol challenges (0-1.0 g/kg) and were less sensitive to the behavioral suppressant effects of alcohol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that repeated alcohol exposure alters decision making during rGT acquisition and reduces the ability to adjust choice behavior on the basis of feedback. In addition, repeated alcohol exposure unmasks its behavioral disinhibitory effects in the rGT. Impaired responsiveness to choice feedback and behavioral disinhibition may contribute to the development of AUD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animals in Science and Society, Division of Behavioural Neuroscience, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spoelder
authors.forename: Heidi M B
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lesscher
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hesseling
authors.forename: Annemarie M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Baars
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lozeman-van t Klooster
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mijnsbergen
authors.forename: Louk J M J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Vanderschuren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003657:Decision Making / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol