Performance under a Go/No-go task in rats selected for high and low impulsivity with a delay-discounting procedure

Behav Pharmacol. 2009 Sep;20(5-6):406-14. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0b013e3283305ea2.

Abstract

Research with animals and humans suggests that impulsivity is both a determinant and a consequence of drug abuse. In the present study, rats screened for high (HiI) or low (LoI) impulsivity using a delay-discounting task were compared on a Go/No-go procedure for intravenous cocaine (0.4 mg/kg) or saccharin pellets (0.1%). An additional aim was to examine the effects of previous cocaine exposure on impulsive choice. Thus, following Go/No-go testing, HiI and LoI rats were reevaluated on delay discounting. The results indicated that HiI and LoI rats did not differ in Go (reinforced) responses or in the number of reinforcements earned under the cocaine or saccharin conditions. However, LoI rats made significantly more No-go (nonreinforced) responses under the cocaine versus the saccharin condition. After the Go/No-go procedure, cocaine-exposed LoI rats were more impulsive on the delay-discounting task for food, compared to LoI rats that were naive to cocaine; however, HiI rats did not differ on this measure. These results indicate that the effects of cocaine on measures of impulsivity may be determined by a preexisting level of impulsive behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Choice Behavior / drug effects
  • Choice Behavior / physiology*
  • Cocaine / adverse effects
  • Cocaine / pharmacology
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / complications
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / etiology
  • Conditioning, Operant / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Operant / physiology
  • Discrimination Learning / drug effects
  • Discrimination Learning / physiology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Food Preferences / drug effects
  • Impulsive Behavior / etiology
  • Impulsive Behavior / psychology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Reinforcement, Psychology*
  • Saccharin / administration & dosage
  • Self Administration / methods

Substances

  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • Saccharin
  • Cocaine