Amphetamine Sensitization - Pre-training
Objective: To examine whether sensitization of dopaminergic systems leads to a more rapid transition from action-outcome processes to stimulus-response habits by testing amphetamine-sensitized rats in an instrumental devaluation task
This is a Amphetamine Sensitization - Pre-training protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 5 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 2 materials. Extracted from a 2006 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
rat • Not specified • unknown • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
~1 week study window
Core workflow
Amphetamine Sensitization (Pre-training) • Instrumental Training • Outcome Devaluation
Primary readouts
- Lever pressing behavior during extinction testing
- Sensitivity to outcome devaluation
- Persistence of responding despite changed reward value
- Acquisition of aversion to reinforcer during reacquisition test
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Amphetamine Sensitization (Pre-training)
Animals received amphetamine injections for 7 consecutive days at 2 mg/kg/day to induce sensitization of dopaminergic systems before instrumental training
Note: This sensitization occurred before the instrumental training phase
View evidence from paper
“Animals were either sensitized (7 d, 2 mg/kg/d) before training (experiment 1)”
Instrumental Training
Rats were trained to press a lever to obtain a reward outcome
Note: Training occurred after the sensitization period in experiment 1
View evidence from paper
“Rats were trained to press a lever for a reward (three sessions)”
Outcome Devaluation
The instrumental outcome (reward) was devalued to test goal sensitivity
Note: This step tested whether animals could use representations of the outcome to guide behavior
View evidence from paper
“were then given a test of goal sensitivity by devaluation of the instrumental outcome before testing in extinction”
Extinction Testing
Testing of lever pressing behavior in extinction following outcome devaluation
Note: Control animals showed selective sensitivity to devaluation; amphetamine-sensitized animals showed persistent responding despite changed reward value
View evidence from paper
“testing in extinction. Control animals showed selective sensitivity to devaluation of the instrumental outcome. However, amphetamine sensitization administered before training caused the animals' responding to persist”
Reacquisition Test
Test to confirm that all animals had acquired an aversion to the reinforcer
Note: This confirmed that the deficit in goal-directed behavior resulted from inability to use outcome representations, not from failure to learn the devaluation
View evidence from paper
“a reacquisition test confirmed that all of the animals had acquired an aversion to the reinforcer”