Lever-press duration as a measure of frustration in sucrose and drug reinforcement

• Published in: Psychopharmacology Vol. 238; no. 4; pp. 959 - 968
• Main Authors: Vasquez, Tileena E. S., McAuley, Ryan J., Gupta, Nikita S., Koshy, Shyny, Marmol-Contreras, Yorkiris, Green, Thomas A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.04.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Addictions; Analysis; Animals; Behavior; Behavior, Addictive; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cocaine; Cocaine - administration & dosage; Conditioning, Operant; Craving; Drug abuse; Drug self-administration; Drug tolerance; Drug use; Fentanyl; Frustration; Impulsive behavior; Male; Measurement; Neurosciences; Original Investigation; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Psychiatry; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement; Reinforcement, Psychology; Reward; Self Administration; Sucrose; Sucrose - administration & dosage; Time perception in animals; United States; Opioid; Drug abuse; Stimulant; Aggression related; Progressive ratio; Escalation
• ISSN: 0033-3158; 1432-2072; 1432-2072
• DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05742-2

Rationale Currently there is little research into the role of frustration in substance use disorders despite research showing that frustration tolerance in humans is associated with a lower likelihood of developing substance use problems, better outcomes in recovery, and fewer relapses. Objective In order to address this need, our studies use a rat model to focus on frustration-related behavior in natural reward and addiction-related behavioral procedures. Frustration is defined as when a subject is unable to achieve a reinforcer, receives less of a reinforcer than anticipated, or has to work harder to achieve a reinforcer. Results In these studies, bar-press durations increase when rats are in a state of frustration during self-administration of sucrose, fentanyl, or cocaine. Conclusions These data also show that average bar-press durations do not correlate with the number of bar presses, meaning that press duration is an independent measurement that represents a behavioral construct distinct from craving, which is typically measured with number of bar presses. Essentially, these results support that bar press durations can be used as a real-time measure of frustration as a 4th major facet of addiction-related behavior, adding to craving, impulsivity, and habit.