The Nucleus Accumbens and Relative Reward

描述（由申请人提供）： 延髓核（nucleus reverbens，NAc）是一个重要的神经结构，参与调节自然奖赏和滥用药物（如可卡因）的强化作用。事实上，NAc细胞的个体群体选择性地编码可卡因或自然奖励。然而，强烈奖励的经验会影响对较低奖励的行为反应，最终，自然奖励与滥用药物相比会贬值。事实上，功能失调的奖励比较行为是DSM-IV定义的物质滥用诊断的充分标准，也是物质依赖诊断的标准之一。不幸的是，滥用药物和自然奖励的病理相互作用的神经基础仍然不清楚。PI将使用NAc中的电生理学和电化学记录在真实的时间内研究这些相互作用，这些记录允许测量细胞放电和DA释放，用于预测获得滥用药物的自然奖励以及药物奖励本身。这些研究将揭示奖励比较的神经基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is an important neural structure involved in mediating the reinforcing actions of natural rewards as well as drugs of abuse, such as cocaine. Indeed, individual populations of NAc cells selectively encode for cocaine or natural rewards. However, experiences with powerful rewards impact behavioral reactions to lesser rewards and ultimately, natural rewards are devalued as they are compared to drugs of abuse. In fact, dysfunctional reward comparison behavior is a sufficient criterion for the diagnosis of Substance Abuse as defined by the DSM-IV, and one of the criteria for the diagnosis of Substance Dependence. Unfortunately, the neural foundation of the pathological interaction of drugs of abuse and natural rewards remains unclear. The PI will investigate these interactions in real time using electrophysiological and electrochemical recordings in the NAc that allow for measurements of cell firing and DA release for the natural reward that predicts access to the drug of abuse as well as for the drug reward itself. These studies will shed light on the neural substrate of reward comparison.