High impulsivity predicts the switch to compulsive cocaine-taking
David Belin, Adam C Mar, Jeffrey W Dalley, Trevor W Robbins, Barry J Everitt, David Belin, Adam C Mar, Jeffrey W Dalley, Trevor W Robbins, Barry J Everitt
Abstract
Both impulsivity and novelty-seeking have been suggested to be behavioral markers of the propensity to take addictive drugs. However, their relevance for the vulnerability to compulsively seek and take drugs, which is a hallmark feature of addiction, is unknown. We report here that, whereas high reactivity to novelty predicts the propensity to initiate cocaine self-administration, high impulsivity predicts the development of addiction-like behavior in rats, including persistent or compulsive drug-taking in the face of aversive outcomes. This study shows experimental evidence that a shift from impulsivity to compulsivity occurs during the development of addictive behavior, which provides insights into the genesis and neural mechanisms of drug addiction.
Figures
![Fig. 1. Impulsivity and novelty-induced locomotor activity:…](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/2478705/bin/ukmss-2012-f0001.jpg)
![Fig. 2. Novelty-induced locomotor activity predicts the…](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/2478705/bin/ukmss-2012-f0002.jpg)
![Fig. 3. Highly impulsive rats closely resemble…](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/2478705/bin/ukmss-2012-f0003.jpg)
![Fig. 4. Impulsivity predicts the transition to…](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/2478705/bin/ukmss-2012-f0004.jpg)
Source: PubMed