Cited by 60Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorSmoking Behavior and CessationNicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study

The tendency to sign-track predicts cue-induced reinstatement during nicotine self-administration, and is enhanced by nicotine but not ethanol

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Versaggi, Cassandra L., King, Christopher P., Meyer, Paul J.·2016·Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Rationale Some individuals are particularly responsive to reward-associated stimuli ("cues"), including the effects of these cues on craving and relapse to drug-seeking behavior. In the cases of nicotine and alcohol, cues may acquire these abilities via the incentive-enhancing properties of the drug.Objectives To determine the interaction between cue-responsivity and nicotine reinforcement, we studied the patterns of nicotine self-administration in rats categorized based on their tendency to approach a food-predictive cue ("sign-trackers") or a reward-delivery location ("goal-trackers"). In a second experiment, we determined whether nicotine and ethanol altered the incentive value of a food cue.Methods Rats were classified as sign- or goal-trackers during a Pavlovian conditioned approach paradigm. Rats then self-administered intravenous nicotine (0.03 mg/kg infusions) followed by extinction and cue-induced reinstatement tests. We also tested the effects of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg base s.c.) or ethanol (0.7 g/kg i.p.) on the approach to, and reinforcing efficacy of, a food cue.Results Sign-trackers showed greater reinstatement in response to a nicotine cue. Further, nicotine enhanced sign-tracking but not goal-tracking to a food cue and also enhanced responding for the food cue during the conditioned reinforcement test. Conversely, ethanol reduced sign-tracking and increased goal-tracking, but had no effect on conditioned reinforcement.Conclusions Our studies demonstrate that the tendency to attribute incentive value to a food cue predicts enhanced cue-induced reinstatement. Additionally, the incentive value of food cues is differentially modulated by nicotine and ethanol, which may be related to the reinforcing effects of these drugs.

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Authors
Versaggi, C. L., King, C. P., & Meyer, P. J.
Affiliations
University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
Corresponding author
Meyer, Paul J.
Venue
Psychopharmacology
Published
2016-06-09
Volume
233
Issue
15-16
Pages
2985-2997
ISSN
  • 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-2072
OpenAlex
W2415741020
Cited by
60
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2
FWCI
3.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • NIH Office of the Director
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA024112)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
Keywords
sign-tracking, goal tracking, nicotine self-administration, cue-induced reinstatement, nicotine, ethanol, incentive value, Pavlovian conditioned approach, food cues, conditioned reinforcement, drug craving, relapse
MeSH terms
Ethanol, Animals, Central Nervous System Depressants, Conditioning, Classical, Cues, Food, Male, Motivation, Nicotine, Reinforcement, Psychology, Reward, Self Administration, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Nicotinic Agonists, Rats, Drug-Seeking Behavior

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