Source Paper
Time-Dependent Increases in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Protein Levels within the Mesolimbic Dopamine System after Withdrawal from Cocaine: Implications for Incubation of Cocaine Craving
Jeffrey W. Grimm, Lin Lu, Teruo Hayashi, Bruce T. Hope, Tsung-Ping Su et al.
Journal of Neuroscience • 2003
Cue-Induced Reinstatement Testing
Objective: To assess cue-induced craving by measuring lever pressing during a 1-hour period after extinction in which responding led to cue presentations
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment2
Materials2
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Protocol Steps
Training phase
Rats were trained to press a lever to receive intravenous cocaine or oral sucrose, with each earned reward paired with a tone-light cue
Note: Training establishes the association between lever pressing, reward, and cues
View evidence from paper
“Rats were trained to press a lever to receive intravenous cocaine or oral sucrose for 6 hr/d for 10 d; each earned reward was paired with a tone–light cue”
Withdrawal period
Rats underwent reward withdrawal for 1, 30, or 90 days before testing
Note: Different withdrawal periods were tested to assess time-dependent changes in craving
View evidence from paper
“Resumption of lever-pressing behavior was then assessed on days 1, 30, or 90 of reward withdrawal”
Extinction testing
Lever presses were not reinforced and the cue was absent to assess resistance to extinction
Note: This phase measures how readily the learned behavior extinguishes without reinforcement or cues
View evidence from paper
“First, resistance to extinction was assessed during 6 hr in which lever presses were not reinforced and the cue was absent”
Cue-induced reinstatement testing
Lever pressing was assessed after extinction during a 1-hour period in which responding led to cue presentations
Note: This phase measures cue-induced craving by assessing how cue presentations alone reinstate lever-pressing behavior
View evidence from paper
“Second, cue-induced reinstatement was assessed after extinction during 1 hr in which responding led to cue presentations”