NRB previously identified that change in brain regions using the non-invasive imaging technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) associated with addiction vulnerability. This vulnerability can be measured by drug-taking behavior despite foot shock in rats. Early social experiences, including peer interactions, are critical for brain development and behavioral regulation. Disruptions in these experiences have been linked to increased risk of substance use disorders. However, it is unclear how social experiences affect vulnerability to substance used disorders.
To shed light on this issue, the proposed self-administration system will allow researchers to evaluate social interaction behavior, drug self-administration and compulsive drug-taking behaviors. These behavioral assessments are essential for understanding how social experiences modulate brain-behavior relationships involved in substance used disorders. This finding is expected to inform future prevention strategies and supports the development of more effective therapeutic interventions for substance use disorders.
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