Psychopharmacology

, Volume 231, Issue 5, pp 909–918 | Cite as

Ultrasonic vocalizations: evidence for an affective opponent process during cocaine self-administration

  • David J. Barker
  • Steven J. Simmons
  • Lisa C. Servilio
  • Danielle Bercovicz
  • Sisi Ma
  • David H. Root
  • Anthony P. Pawlak
  • Mark O. West
Original Investigation
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Rationale

Preclinical models of cocaine addiction in the rodent have shown that cocaine induces both positive and negative affective states. These observations have led to the notion that the initial positive/euphoric state induced by cocaine administration may be followed by an opposing, negative process. In the rodent, one method for inferring positive and negative affective states involves measuring their ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). Previous USV recordings from our laboratory suggested that the transition between positive and negative affect might involve decaying or sub-satiety levels of self-administered cocaine.

Objectives

In order to explicitly test the role of cocaine levels on these affective states, the present study examined USVs when calculated body levels of cocaine were clamped (i.e., held at a constant level via experimenter-controlled infusions) at, below, or above subjects' self-determined drug satiety thresholds.

Results

USVs indicated that (1) positive affect was predominantly observed during the drug loading period, but declined quickly to near zero during maintenance and exhibited little relation to calculated drug level, and (2) in contrast, negative affect was observed at sub-satiety cocaine levels, but was relatively absent when body levels of cocaine were clamped at or above subjects' satiety thresholds.

Conclusions

The results reinforce the opponent-process hypothesis of addiction and suggest that an understanding of the mechanisms underlying negative affect might serve to inform behavioral and pharmacological therapies.

Keywords

Cocaine Addiction Affect Ultrasonic vocalization Drug abuse 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We thank Thomas Grace Sr., Jackie Thomas, and Kevin Coffey for excellent assistance. This study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Grants DA006886 (MOW), DA029873 (MOW), and DA032270 (DJB).

Conflict of interest

The authors have no financial interests to be disclosed. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • David J. Barker
    • 1
  • Steven J. Simmons
    • 1
  • Lisa C. Servilio
    • 1
  • Danielle Bercovicz
    • 1
  • Sisi Ma
    • 1
  • David H. Root
    • 2
  • Anthony P. Pawlak
    • 1
  • Mark O. West
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of PsychologyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayUSA
  2. 2.Neuronal Networks Section, Integrative Neuroscience Research BranchNational Institute on Drug AbuseBaltimoreUSA

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