Differential effects of glutamate N-methyl- d -aspartate receptor antagonists on risky choice as assessed in the risky d
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ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION
Differential effects of glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists on risky choice as assessed in the risky decision task Justin R. Yates 1 & Matthew J. Horchar 1 & Alexis L. Ellis 1 & Joy L. Kappesser 2 & Prodiges Mbambu 1 & Tanner G. Sutphin 1 & Destiny S. Dehner 1 & Hephzibah O. Igwe 1 & Makayla R. Wright 1 Received: 20 July 2020 / Accepted: 10 September 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Rationale Risky choice can be measured using the risky decision task (RDT). In the RDT, animals choose between a large, risky option that is paired with probabilistic foot shock and a small, safe option that is never paired with shock. To date, studies examining the neurochemical basis of decision-making in the RDT have focused primarily on the dopaminergic system but have not focused on the glutamatergic system, which has been implicated in risky decision-making. Objectives Because glutamate is known to play a critical role in decision-making, we wanted to determine the contribution of the glutamatergic system to performance in the RDT. Methods In the experiment, 32 rats (16 male; 16 female) were tested in the RDT. The probability of receiving a foot shock increased across the session (ascending schedule) for half of the rats but decreased across the session (descending schedule) for half of the rats. Following training, rats received injections of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor competitive antagonist CGS 19755 (0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 mg/kg; s.c.) and the GluN2B-selective antagonist Ro 63-1908 (0, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 mg/kg; s.c.). Results CGS 19755 (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) increased risky choice in males and females trained on the ascending schedule. Ro 631908 (1.0 mg/kg) decreased risky choice, but only in male rats trained on the ascending schedule. Conclusions Although NMDA receptor antagonists differentially alter risky choice in the RDT, the current results show that NMDA receptors are an important mediator of decision-making involving probabilistic delivery of positive punishment. Keywords Risky choice . Risky decision task . Glutamate . NMDA receptor . GluN2B subunit . Rat
Introduction Risky choice reflects decisions that involve uncertainty. In some situations, individuals have to make a choice between a small, guaranteed reinforcer and a large, uncertain reinforcer. In other situations, risk entails receiving positive punishment for engaging in a behavior (e.g., an individual using a drug may contract a sexually transmitted infection by sharing needles). Not surprisingly, risky choice has been linked to several maladaptive behaviors, including pathological
* Justin R. Yates [email protected] 1
Department of Psychological Science, Northern Kentucky University, 1 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
2
Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, 1 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA
gambling (Brand et al. 2005; Madden et al. 2009) and substance use disorders (Brevers et al. 2014; Schutter et al. 2011). As such, unde
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