| The present dissertation examined the conditioned place preference paradigm (CPP). More specifically, the research investigated the neurobiology of CPP induction and extinction. The first line of inquiry focused on the roles of the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala, the core region of the nucleus accumbens, and the shell region of the nucleus accumbens, in memory consolidation processes underlying CPP behavior, It was found that post-training amygdala inactivation, but not nucleus accumbens shell or core inactivation, prevented the acquisition of food and amphetamine CPP's.; The second series of experiments examined the neurochemistry of memory consolidation processes underlying CPP behavior. First it was determined that muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, but not dopamine receptors, are necessary for CPP consolidation. Then muscarinic receptors within the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala were found to subserve memory consolidation processes underlying CPP behavior.; The final series of experiments examined the extinction of an amphetamine CPP. The parameters of amphetamine CPP extinction were determined, and then post-trial application of glucose, a compound with memory enhancing qualities in other learning and memory tasks, was found to facilitate this process. Finally, it was determined that post-extinction trial application of the muscarinic agonist oxotremorine also enhances the extinction of an amphetamine-CPP. The results demonstrate the importance of the amygdala and muscarinic receptors in stimulus-reward associations, and have important implications for the treatment of addictive disorders. |
