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The effect of nicotine on sign-tracking and goal-tracking in a Pavlovian conditioned approach paradigm in rats

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Abstract

Rationale

Nicotine (NIC) potently increases operant responding for non-NIC reinforcers, and this effect may depend on drug-mediated increases in incentive motivation. According to this hypothesis, NIC should also potently increase approach to Pavlovian-conditioned stimuli associated with rewards.

Objective

The present studies explored the effects of NIC on Pavlovian-conditioned approach responses.

Method

To do so, liquid dippers were used to deliver an unconditioned stimulus (US; 0.1 ml sucrose) after presentation of a conditioned stimulus (CS; 30 s illumination of a stimulus light)—both the CS and US were presented in receptacles equipped to monitor head entries.

Results

In experiment 1, the CS and US were presented in the same receptacle, but NIC pretreatment (0.4 mg/kg base) did not increase conditioned approach responses. Delivery of the sucrose US was then shifted to receptacle in a different location. All rats learned to approach the new US location (goal-tracking) at similar rates. Approach to the CS receptacle (sign-tracking) declined for saline-pretreated rats, but NIC pretreatment increased sign-tracking. In experiment 2, NIC pretreatment increased sign-tracking when the CS and US were spatially separated during acquisition. In experiment 3, NIC pretreatments were replaced with saline, but the effect of NIC persisted for an additional 24 test sessions.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that NIC increases incentive motivation and that this effect is long-lasting, persisting beyond the pharmacological effects of NIC.

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Acknowledgments

The research was conducted at Kansas State University and all of the protocols and procedures were approved by the Kansas State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (Animal Welfare Assurance #: A3609-01). We thank Dr. Rick Bevins for his comments on a previous version of this manuscript. We thank Dr. Matt McBee for assistance with data analysis. We thank Jessica Jones, Ryan Floyd, Skyler Gross, and Taylor Montgomery for their assistance conducting these studies. The studies were partially supported by the Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University (SA Jones) and NIH grant DA-24801 (MI Palmatier).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, PO Box 70649, 37641, USA

    Matthew I. Palmatier & A. Brianna Sheppard

  2. Department of Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

    Kimberley R. Marks, Scott A. Jones, Kyle S. Freeman & Kevin M. Wissman

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  1. Matthew I. Palmatier
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  2. Kimberley R. Marks
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Correspondence to Matthew I. Palmatier.

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Palmatier, M.I., Marks, K.R., Jones, S.A. et al. The effect of nicotine on sign-tracking and goal-tracking in a Pavlovian conditioned approach paradigm in rats. Psychopharmacology 226, 247–259 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2892-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2892-9

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