
Intermittent access cocaine self-administration produces psychomotor sensitization: effects of withdrawal, sex and cross-sensitization
Author(s) -
Crystal C. Carr,
Carrie R. Ferrario,
Terry E. Robinson
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
psychopharmacology/psychopharmacologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.378
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1432-2072
pISSN - 0033-3158
DOI - 10.1007/s00213-020-05500-4
Subject(s) - sensitization , psychomotor learning , psychology , self administration , stimulant , addiction , anhedonia , amphetamine , pharmacology , developmental psychology , dopamine , medicine , psychiatry , neuroscience , cognition
With repeated administration, the psychomotor activating effects of drugs such as cocaine or amphetamine can change in very different ways-showing sensitization or tolerance-depending on whether they are administered more or less intermittently. This behavioral plasticity is thought to reflect, at least in part, changes in dopamine (DA) neurotransmission, and therefore, may provide insights into the development of substance use disorders. Indeed, the most widely used preclinical model of cocaine addiction, which involves Long Access (LgA) self-administration procedures, is reported to produce tolerance to cocaine's psychomotor activating effects and effects on DA activity. In contrast, Intermittent Access (IntA) cocaine self-administration is more effective than LgA in producing addiction-like behavior, but sensitizes DA neurotransmission. There is, however, very little information concerning the effects of IntA experience on the psychomotor activating effects of cocaine.