Facilitation of appetitive pavlovian conditioning by d-amphetamine in the shell, but not the core, of the nucleus accumbens

Behav Neurosci. 2003 Aug;117(4):675-84. doi: 10.1037/0735-7044.117.4.675.

Abstract

The effects of postsession d-amphetamine within subregions of the ventral and dorsal striatum on appetitive Pavlovian learning were assessed. Rats acquired a conditioned approach response on presentation of a stimulus predictive of 10% sucrose solution (unconditioned stimulus [US]), but not during equally frequent presentations of a stimulus uncorrelated with the US. In Experiment 1, postsession d-amphetamine infusions enhanced acquisition of conditioned responding, with no effect on control measures. In Experiment 2, rats received postsession d-amphetamine in the accumbens shell or core. Shell infusions facilitated conditioning; core infusions did not. In Experiment 3, dorsomedial striatal infusions of d-amphetamine also were ineffective. In sum, dopaminergic activation within the shell, but not the core, of the nucleus accumbens facilitates the acquisition of a Pavlovian association.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Appetitive Behavior / drug effects*
  • Conditioning, Classical / drug effects*
  • Dextroamphetamine / pharmacology*
  • Dopamine Agents / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Nucleus Accumbens / drug effects*
  • Nucleus Accumbens / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Dopamine / physiology*

Substances

  • Dopamine Agents
  • Receptors, Dopamine
  • Dextroamphetamine