-
Medicina 2019Self-stimulatory and self-injurious behaviors are very frequent in neurodevelopmental disorders, being a source of anxiety and suffering for persons who have that... (Review)
Review
Self-stimulatory and self-injurious behaviors are very frequent in neurodevelopmental disorders, being a source of anxiety and suffering for persons who have that behavior and their families. Sometimes these behaviors are so intense and frequent that it becomes a selfintegrity risk. A bibliographic review was conducted on the different approaches that have been developed until today; in addition, this article explains the methodology applied in our clinic, with a data collection on the effect of therapy on self-injurious and self-stimulatory behaviors in 20 cases, as a starting point for future research. The sensory integration model that complements pharmacological and behavioral cognitive treatment is highlighted, since it considers sensory needs relevant and trains the capacity for functional self-regulation.
Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Humans; Occupational Therapy; Self Stimulation; Self-Injurious Behavior; Sensation
PubMed: 30776278
DOI: No ID Found -
Neuron Dec 2015The factors causing the transition from recreational drug consumption to addiction remain largely unknown. It has not been tested whether dopamine (DA) is sufficient to...
The factors causing the transition from recreational drug consumption to addiction remain largely unknown. It has not been tested whether dopamine (DA) is sufficient to trigger this process. Here we use optogenetic self-stimulation of DA neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to selectively mimic the defining commonality of addictive drugs. All mice readily acquired self-stimulation. After weeks of abstinence, cue-induced relapse was observed in parallel with a potentiation of excitatory afferents onto D1 receptor-expressing neurons of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). When the mice had to endure a mild electric foot shock to obtain a stimulation, some stopped while others persevered. The resistance to punishment was associated with enhanced neural activity in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) while chemogenetic inhibition of the OFC reduced compulsivity. Together, these results show that stimulating VTA DA neurons induces behavioral and cellular hallmarks of addiction, indicating sufficiency for the induction and progression of the disease.
Topics: Animals; Channelrhodopsins; Clozapine; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Conditioning, Operant; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Dopaminergic Neurons; Food Deprivation; GABA Antagonists; Glutamate Decarboxylase; Limbic System; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Receptors, Dopamine D1; Self Administration; Sucrose; Synaptic Transmission; Time Factors
PubMed: 26586182
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.10.017 -
Journal of Ayub Medical College,... 2022Childhood masturbations (CM) is stimulation of genital by pre-adolescent children with accompanying symptoms including sweating, tachycardia, blushing, muscle...
Childhood masturbations (CM) is stimulation of genital by pre-adolescent children with accompanying symptoms including sweating, tachycardia, blushing, muscle contraction and increase rate of breathing. We are presenting case series of three patients, who presented with history of vague symptoms and ultimately diagnosed and managed as case of CM. A 2 years old girl presented with history of to and fro movements. A 3 years old girl presented with history of rubbing of inner thighs and 3 years old boy presented with history of holding and rubbing genitalia with forward bending and symptoms of increase breathing, flushing and sweating. Video recording was available with two patients, which helped in making final diagnosis. Parents were counselled and patients referred for behavioural therapy. Conclusion: In young child CM should be considered in differential diagnosis whenever history is not fully suggestive of seizures.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Child; Adolescent; Child, Preschool; Masturbation; Seizures; Diagnosis, Differential; Behavior Therapy
PubMed: 36566414
DOI: 10.55519/JAMC-04-9186 -
Nature Neuroscience Oct 2021The long-range GABAergic input from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is relatively understudied, and therefore its role in reward...
The long-range GABAergic input from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is relatively understudied, and therefore its role in reward processing has remained unknown. In the present study, we show, in both male and female mice, that long-range GABAergic projections from the VTA to the ventral NAc shell, but not to the dorsal NAc shell or NAc core, are engaged in reward and reinforcement behavior. We show that this GABAergic projection exclusively synapses on to cholinergic interneurons (CINs) in the ventral NAc shell, thereby serving a specialized function in modulating reinforced reward behavior through the inhibition of ventral NAc shell CINs. These findings highlight the diversity in the structural and functional topography of VTA GABAergic projections, and their neuromodulatory interactions across the dorsoventral gradient of the NAc shell. They also further our understanding of neuronal circuits that are directly implicated in neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression and addiction.
Topics: Animals; Brain Mapping; Cholinergic Neurons; Conditioning, Operant; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Female; Interneurons; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Nucleus Accumbens; Reinforcement, Psychology; Reward; Self Stimulation; Ventral Tegmental Area; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 34385700
DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00898-2 -
Drug and Alcohol Dependence Apr 2018Animal models are needed to inform FDA regulation of electronic cigarettes (ECs) because they avoid limitations associated with human studies. We previously reported...
BACKGROUND
Animal models are needed to inform FDA regulation of electronic cigarettes (ECs) because they avoid limitations associated with human studies. We previously reported that an EC refill liquid produced less aversive/anhedonic effects at a high nicotine dose than nicotine alone as measured by elevations in intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) thresholds, which may reflect the presence of behaviorally active non-nicotine constituents (e.g., propylene glycol) in the EC liquids. The primary objective of this study was to assess the generality of our prior ICSS findings to two additional EC liquids. We also compared effects of "nicotine-free" varieties of these EC liquids on ICSS, as well as binding affinity and/or functional activity of nicotine alone, nicotine-containing EC liquids, and "nicotine-free" EC liquids at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs).
METHODS AND RESULTS
Nicotine alone and nicotine dose-equivalent concentrations of both nicotine-containing EC liquids produced similar lowering of ICSS thresholds at low to moderate nicotine doses, indicating similar reinforcement-enhancing effects. At high nicotine doses, nicotine alone elevated ICSS thresholds (a measure of anhedonia-like behavior) while the EC liquids did not. Nicotine-containing EC liquids did not differ from nicotine alone in terms of binding affinity or functional activity at nAChRs. "Nicotine-free" EC liquids did not affect ICSS, but bound with low affinity at some (e.g., α4ß2) nAChRs.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that non-nicotine constituents in these EC liquids do not contribute to their reinforcement-enhancing effects. However, they may attenuate nicotine's acute aversive/anhedonic and/or toxic effects, which may moderate the abuse liability and/or toxicity of ECs.
Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Male; Models, Animal; Nicotine; Rats; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Self Stimulation
PubMed: 29413432
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.11.032 -
PloS One 2020The lateral hypothalamus (LH) includes several anatomical subregions involved in eating and reward motivation. This study explored localization of function across...
The lateral hypothalamus (LH) includes several anatomical subregions involved in eating and reward motivation. This study explored localization of function across different LH subregions in controlling food intake stimulated by optogenetic channelrhodopsin excitation, and in supporting laser self-stimulation. We particularly compared the tuberal LH subregion, the posterior LH subregion, and the lateral preoptic area. Local diameters of tissue optogenetically stimulated within the LH were assessed by measuring laser-induced Fos plumes and Jun plumes via immunofluorescence surrounding optic fiber tips. Those plume diameters were used to map localization of function for behavioral effects elicited by LH optogenetic stimulation. Optogenetic stimulation of the tuberal subsection of the LH produced the most robust eating behavior and food intake initially, but produced only mild laser self-stimulation in the same rats. However, after repeated exposures to optogenetic stimulation, tuberal LH behavioral profiles shifted toward more self-stimulation and less food intake. By contrast, stimulation of the lateral preoptic area produced relatively little food intake or self-stimulation, either initially or after extended stimulation experience. Stimulation in the posterior LH subregion supported moderate self-stimulation, but not food intake, and at higher laser intensity shifted valence to evoke escape behaviors. We conclude that the tuberal LH subregion may best mediate stimulation-bound increases in food intake stimulated by optogenetic excitation. However, incentive motivational effects of tuberal LH stimulation may shift toward self-stimulation behavior after repeated stimulation. By contrast, the lateral preoptic area and posterior LH do not as readily elicit either eating behavior or laser self-stimulation, and may be more prone to higher-intensity aversive effects.
Topics: Animals; Electric Stimulation; Feeding Behavior; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral; Motivation; Optogenetics; Preoptic Area; Rats; Reward; Self Stimulation
PubMed: 31986148
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224301 -
Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience :... Sep 1991In the past decade, there has been considerable emphasis on developing and refining the measurement instruments used to assess the rewarding effect of brain stimulation.... (Review)
Review
In the past decade, there has been considerable emphasis on developing and refining the measurement instruments used to assess the rewarding effect of brain stimulation. These efforts have given rise to quantitative methods aimed at revealing the underlying neurophysiology and neuroanatomy by tracing the trajectories of the relevant neurons. In this paper, we summarize some of the quantitative findings that have resulted from research at the University of Ottawa in the neurobiology of motivated behavior. These include studies using markers to reveal which structures are metabolically activated by rewarding brain stimulation, comprehensive mapping of brain areas for self-stimulation and other stimulation-induced behaviors, and examination of the effects of benzodiazepines on feeding and reward.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Brain Mapping; Medial Forebrain Bundle; Motivation; Self Stimulation
PubMed: 1958643
DOI: No ID Found -
Adicciones Sep 2017The development of animal models of drug reward and addiction is an essential factor for progress in understanding the biological basis of this disorder and for the... (Review)
Review
The development of animal models of drug reward and addiction is an essential factor for progress in understanding the biological basis of this disorder and for the identification of new therapeutic targets. Depending on the component of reward to be studied, one type of animal model or another may be used. There are models of reinforcement based on the primary hedonic effect produced by the consumption of the addictive substance, such as the self-administration (SA) and intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) paradigms, and there are models based on the component of reward related to associative learning and cognitive ability to make predictions about obtaining reward in the future, such as the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. In recent years these models have incorporated methodological modifications to study extinction, reinstatement and reconsolidation processes, or to model specific aspects of addictive behavior such as motivation to consume drugs, compulsive consumption or drug seeking under punishment situations. There are also models that link different reinforcement components or model voluntary motivation to consume (two-bottle choice, or drinking in the dark tests). In short, innovations in these models allow progress in scientific knowledge regarding the different aspects that lead individuals to consume a drug and develop compulsive consumption, providing a target for future treatments of addiction.
Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 28170057
DOI: 10.20882/adicciones.862 -
Neuropharmacology Jan 2014In recent years, neuroscientists have produced profound conceptual and mechanistic advances on the neurocircuitry of reward and substance use disorders. Here, we will... (Review)
Review
In recent years, neuroscientists have produced profound conceptual and mechanistic advances on the neurocircuitry of reward and substance use disorders. Here, we will provide a brief review of intracranial drug self-administration and optogenetic self-stimulation studies that identified brain regions and neurotransmitter systems involved in drug- and reward-related behaviors. Also discussed is a theoretical framework that helps to understand the functional properties of the circuitry involved in these behaviors. The circuitry appears to be homeostatically regulated and mediate anticipatory processes that regulate behavioral interaction with the environment in response to salient stimuli. That is, abused drugs or, at least, some may act on basic motivation and mood processes, regulating behavior-environment interaction. Optogenetics and related technologies have begun to uncover detailed circuit mechanisms linking key brain regions in which abused drugs act for rewarding effects. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'NIDA 40th Anniversary Issue'.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Neural Pathways; Optogenetics; Reward; Self Stimulation; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 23664810
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.04.031 -
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2023
PubMed: 37261228
DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1215119