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Memory impairment and alterations in prefrontal cortex gamma band activity following methamphetamine sensitization

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Abstract

Rationale

Repeated methamphetamine (MA) use leads to increases in the incentive motivational properties of the drug as well as cognitive impairments. These behavioral alterations persist for some time following abstinence, and neuroadaptations in the structure and function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are particularly important for their expression. However, there is a weak understanding of the changes in neural firing and oscillatory activity in the PFC evoked by repeated drug use, thus complicating the development of novel treatment strategies for addiction.

Objectives

The purpose of the current study was to assess changes in cognitive and brain function following MA sensitization.

Methods

Sensitization was induced in rats, then temporal and recognition memory were assessed after 1 or 30 days of abstinence. Electrophysiological recordings from the medial PFC were also acquired from rats whereupon simultaneous measures of oscillatory and spiking activity were examined.

Results

Impaired temporal memory was observed after 1 and 30 days of abstinence. However, recognition memory was only impaired after 1 day of abstinence. An injection of MA profoundly decreased neuronal firing rate and the anesthesia-induced slow oscillation (SO) in both sensitized (SENS) and control (CTRL) rats. Strong correlations were observed between the SO and gamma band power, which was altered in SENS animals. A decrease in the number of neurons phase-locked to the gamma oscillation was also observed in SENS animals.

Conclusions

The changes observed in PFC function may play an integral role in the expression of the altered behavioral phenotype evoked by MA sensitization.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant nos. AA022821 (CCL), AA022268 (DNL), and ABMRF (CCL).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Sarine S. Janetsian, David N. Linsenbardt & Christopher C. Lapish

  2. Stark Neuroscience Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Christopher C. Lapish

  3. School of Science Institute for Mathematical Modeling and Computational Sciences, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Christopher C. Lapish

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  1. Sarine S. Janetsian
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  2. David N. Linsenbardt
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  3. Christopher C. Lapish
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Correspondence to Sarine S. Janetsian.

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Janetsian, S.S., Linsenbardt, D.N. & Lapish, C.C. Memory impairment and alterations in prefrontal cortex gamma band activity following methamphetamine sensitization. Psychopharmacology 232, 2083–2095 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3840-7

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