Cited by 170Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeuropeptides and Animal PhysiologyMemory and Neural Mechanisms

What and when to "want"? Amygdala-based focusing of incentive salience upon sugar and sex

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Mahler, Stephen V., Berridge, Kent C.·2012·Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Rationale Amygdala-related circuitry helps translate learned Pavlovian associations into appetitive and aversive motivation, especially upon subsequent encounters with cues. Objectives We asked whether μ-opioid stimulation via microinjections of the specific agonist D-Ala(2), N-MePhe(4), Gly-ol)-enkephalin (DAMGO) in central nucleus of amygdala (CeA), or the adjacent basolateral amygdala (BLA) would magnify sucrose or sex "wanting", guided by available cues. Materials and methods CeA or BLA DAMGO enhancement of cue-triggered "wanting" was assessed using Pavlovian to instrumental transfer (PIT). Unconditioned food "wanting" was measured via intake, and male sexual "wanting" for an estrous female was measured in a sexual approach test. Sucrose hedonic taste "liking" was measured in a taste reactivity test. Results CeA (but not BLA) DAMGO increased the intensity of phasic peaks in instrumental sucrose seeking stimulated by Pavlovian cues over precue levels in PIT, while suppressing seeking at other moments. CeA DAMGO also enhanced food intake, as well as sexual approach and investigation of an estrous female by males. DAMGO "wanting" enhancements were localized to CeA, as indicated by "Fos plume"-based anatomical maps for DAMGO causation of behavioral effects. Despite increasing "wanting", CeA DAMGO decreased the hedonic impact or "liking" for sucrose in a taste reactivity paradigm. Conclusions CeA μ-opioid stimulation specifically enhances incentive salience, which is dynamically guided to food or sex by available cues.

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  • Evidence suggests that repeated excitation by sexual stimuli can have a similar sensitization effect.

    “Evidence suggests that repeated excitation by sexual stimuli can have a similar effect (Lynch and Ryan, 2020;Mahler and Berridge, 2012).”

    From A motivation model of sex addiction – Relevance to the controversy over the concept (2022) · cites this paper as Mahler and Berridge, 2012

    The Discussion reports that amygdala opioid stimulation increased sexually directed approaches and investigation in rats. The Sexual Incentive Test methods describe acute DAMGO microinjections before two sessions, not repeated excitation by sexual stimuli; the paper therefore supports enhanced sexual motivation, but not the claimed sensitization mechanism. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  1. Toates F 1986 Motivational Systems Cambridge University Press Cambridge, UK

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Authors
Mahler, S. V., & Berridge, K. C.
Affiliations
  • Medical University of South Carolina (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author
Mahler, Stephen V.
Venue
Psychopharmacology
Published
2011-12-14
Volume
221
Issue
3
Pages
407-426
ISSN
  • 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-2072
OpenAlex
W2147423572
Cited by
170
References
103
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 8
FWCI
3.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (1s15mh053649-01)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH053649, R01MH063649)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA021481, DA015188, R01DA015188, F31DA021481)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
central amygdala, basolateral amygdala, mu-opioid receptor, DAMGO, incentive salience, sexual motivation, Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer, sucrose seeking, dietary intake
MeSH terms
Amygdala, Analgesics, Opioid, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Cues, Eating, Estrus, Female, Male, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Sucrose, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptors, Opioid, mu, Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-, Rats

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