# Animal Models of Addiction

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2022 · $456,000

## Abstract

Abstract:
It is generally accepted that limited (Short Access, ShA) cocaine self-administration experience
does not produce changes in brain and behavior associated with addiction. The most widely used
models of addiction involve Long Access procedures (LgA, 6hrs+/day), which greatly increase
the amount of drug consumption. LgA produces a number of addiction-like behaviors, and
changes in brain, not seen with ShA. However, in addition to the amount of cocaine use, the
temporal pattern of use – how intermittent it is – is also important in producing addiction-like
behavior and associated neuroadaptations. Zimmer et al. (2013) developed an intermittent
access self-administration procedure (IntA) to better model the intermittent patterns of cocaine
use seen in addicts. He found that, despite much less total drug consumption, motivation for
cocaine was higher in rats with prior IntA experience than those with LgA experience. Consistent
with this, we found that IntA produces robust incentive-sensitization, as indicated by a
progressive increase in cocaine demand (based on behavioral economic indicators), an
associated escalation of intake, and very robust reinstatement of cocaine seeking behavior –
despite consuming much less drug than under LgA conditions. Thus, our Overall Aim is to directly
compare and contrast the behavioral, psychological and neurobiological effects of these two
models of addiction. The overall goal is to determine whether the changes in brain and behavior
produced by LgA vs. IntA experience only differ quantitatively, or, whether there are qualitative
differences in outcomes. This information will be critical in making informed decisions about the
animal model to use in preclinical studies of addiction, and will also be important in determining
directions in the development of therapeutics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10307147
- **Project number:** 5R01DA044204-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Terry E. Robinson
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $456,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-12-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10307147

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10307147, Animal Models of Addiction (5R01DA044204-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10307147. Licensed CC0.

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