| Autor: |
Freels TG; Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA., Gabriel DBK; Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA., Lester DB; Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA., Simon NW; Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA. nwsimon@memphis.edu. |
| Abstrakt: |
The risky decision-making task (RDT) measures risk-taking in a rat model by assessing preference between a small, safe reward and a large reward with increasing risk of punishment (mild foot shock). It is well-established that dopaminergic drugs modulate risk-taking; however, little is known about how differences in baseline phasic dopamine signaling drive individual differences in risk preference. Here, we used in vivo fixed potential amperometry in male Long-Evans rats to test if phasic nucleus accumbens shell (NACs) dopamine dynamics are associated with risk-taking. We observed a positive correlation between medial forebrain bundle-evoked dopamine release in the NACs and risky decision-making, suggesting that risk-taking is associated with elevated dopamine sensitivity. Moreover, "risk-taking" subjects were found to demonstrate greater phasic dopamine release than "risk-averse" subjects. Risky decision-making also predicted enhanced sensitivity to the dopamine reuptake inhibitor nomifensine, and elevated autoreceptor function. Importantly, this hyperdopaminergic phenotype was selective for risky decision-making, as delay discounting performance was not predictive of phasic dopamine release or dopamine supply. These data identify phasic NACs dopamine release as a possible therapeutic target for alleviating the excessive risk-taking observed across multiple forms of psychopathology. |
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