Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

2023

Abstract

Although methamphetamine abuse and fatality rates are on the rise in the United States, there are currently no FDA approved drugs to treat methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). To better understand factors contributing to addiction, researchers have designed various rodent models of stress including the use of footshock, social defeat and maternal separation, however, these models involve physical or early life stress exposure and thus are less translatable to human psychological stress. The present study implemented predatory odors as a model of psychological stress and examined whether chronic exposure to these stressors enhanced subsequent vulnerability to a subthreshold dose of methamphetamine. Results of the current study suggest using coyote urine can enhance vulnerability to drug reward/motivation in the CPP drug paradigm, as shown by increased drug-seeking behavior in animals given methamphetamine. Specifically, methamphetamine animals exposed to coyote urine displayed a resistance to extinction in comparison to other stress groups. In conclusion, coyote urine may serve as a sufficient psychological stressor to alter motivation for subthreshold doses of methamphetamine and potentially other drugs of abuse.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Nathan Pentkowski

Second Committee Member

Benjamin Clark

Third Committee Member

Arturo Zavala

Language

English

Keywords

methamphetamine, stress, conditioning, CPP, predator odors, coyote urine

Document Type

Thesis

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