Unpredictable drug and non-drug alternatives as determinants of cocaine choice

描述（由申请人提供）：服用可卡因的选择可以通过操纵获得药物和非药物替代品所需的数量和反应来改变，这项研究有助于药物滥用行为治疗的发展，如应急管理。应急管理是对药物滥用最有效的社会心理治疗。然而，可以通过降低成本来提高应急管理的可行性。使用非人类的行为治疗模型，我们可以彻底检查变量，如反应要求和药物量，以确定最有效地减少药物选择的安排。这些变量对非人类药物选择的影响主要研究了两种选择的定性相似的反应-反应关系。然而，在性质不同的情况下，当药物和竞争性非药物替代品可用时，选择服用药物代表了对人类药物滥用者经历的更多转化方法。行为更持久，具有不可预测性（例如，变量）相对于可预测的（例如，固定）时间表当在固定和可变的食物时间表之间进行选择时，非人类倾向于选择可变选项，即使结果是净强化物损失。非人类是否会选择一个可变的与固定的药物输送时间表还没有被检查。拟议研究的总体目标是检查不可预测的强化是否是恒河猴选择可卡因的决定因素。这项研究的意义是双重的：1）它将建立在何种程度上的一个基本的行为现象-偏好不可预测的选项-是可卡因自我管理的一个关键特征; 2）我们的假设的确认将支持使用新的和容易实施的修改药物滥用的行为治疗的基础上不可预测的性质的药物和非药物的选择。具体目标1是检查可卡因的可预测和不可预测的时间表之间的选择。据推测，在不可预测的情况下，可卡因将是一种更有效的麻醉剂。具体目标2是研究在药物与食物的情况下，可卡因和食物交付的可预测和不可预测的时间表之间的选择。据推测，可卡因将更有效时，它是在一个不可预测的时间表和有效性较低时，食物是在不可预测的时间表。具体目标3是检查可卡因和食物之间的选择时，食物是不可预测的时间表和每次交付量。据推测，食物将更有效时，其时间表和数量的交付是不可预测的相对于情况下，只有时间表或数量是不可预测的。如果在不可预测的情况下更坚定地选择可卡因，那么可卡因的不可预测性可能会增加其强化价值。相反，当替代的非药物替代品不可预测时，减少可卡因的选择可能会提供一种治疗可卡因滥用的有效和新颖的方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The choice to take cocaine can be altered by manipulating the amount and responses required to obtain drug and non-drug alternatives, and this research has contributed to development of behavioral treatments for drug abuse, such as contingency management. Contingency management is the most effective psychosocial treatment for substance abuse. However, the feasibility of contingency management could be enhanced by reducing its cost. Using a nonhuman model of behavioral therapy, we can thoroughly examine variables such as response requirement and reinforcer amount to determine arrangements that most effectively reduce drug choice. Effects of such variables on drug choice in nonhumans have been studied primarily with qualitatively similar response-reinforcer relations for both options. However, the choice to take a drug when drug and competing non-drug alternatives are available under qualitatively different circumstances represents a more translational approach to what human drug abusers experience. Behavior is more persistent with unpredictable (e.g., variable) relative to predictable (e.g., fixed) schedules When choice is between fixed and variable schedules of food, nonhumans tend to choose the variable option, even when the result is net reinforcer loss. Whether nonhumans will choose a variable vs. fixed schedule of drug delivery has not been examined. The overall goal of the proposed research is to examine whether unpredictable reinforcement is a determinant of cocaine choice in rhesus monkeys. The significance of this research is two-fold: 1) it will establish the extent to which a fundamental behavioral phenomenon-preference for unpredictable options-is a key feature of cocaine self-administration; 2) confirmation of our hypotheses would support the use of novel and easily implemented modifications to behavioral therapy for drug abuse based on the unpredictable nature of drug and non-drug options. Specific Aim 1 is to examine choice between predictable and unpredictable schedules of cocaine. It is hypothesized that cocaine will be a more effective reinforcer when available in an unpredictable situation. Specific Aim 2 is to examine choice between predictable and unpredictable schedules of cocaine and food delivery in a drug vs. food situation. It is hypothesized that cocaine will be more effective when it is available under an unpredictable schedule and less effective when food is available under and unpredictable schedule. Specific Aim 3 is to examine choice between cocaine and food when food is unpredictable in terms of schedule and amount per delivery. It is hypothesized that food will be more effective when its schedule and amount of delivery are unpredictable relative to situations where only schedule or amount is unpredictable. If cocaine is chosen more robustly under unpredictable situations, then the unpredictability of cocaine may serve to increase its reinforcing value. Conversely, reducing cocaine choice when alternative non-drug reinforcers are unpredictable may provide an effective and novel approach to treating cocaine abuse.