Journal article
Regulation of Drug Taking by Sensitization and Habituation
Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, Vol.13(3), pp.163-184
08/2005
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/116718
PMID: 16173878
Abstract
The authors argue that drug taking is an operant behavior that is reinforced by the drug itself. The effectiveness of a drug as a reinforcer is modulated by sensitization and habituation to the drug as it is consumed. According to this model, drug taking stops when habituation reduces the ability of the drug to reinforce its own consumption. Drug taking resumes when spontaneous recovery restores the effectiveness of the drug as a reinforcer. This parsimonious model provides a framework for understanding many findings in the drug literature, including acute and chronic tolerance, the effect of deprivation on consumption, the contextual specificity of tolerance, polydrug abuse, cross-sensitization between stress and drugs, behavioral sensitization, priming, and reinstatement. Although this model cannot explain all aspects of drug taking (e.g., the effect of cognitive manipulations), it has many implications for understanding and controlling human drug consumption and addiction.
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Details
- Title
- Regulation of Drug Taking by Sensitization and Habituation
- Creators
- Frances K McSweeney - Department of Psychology, Washington State UniversityEric S Murphy - Department of Psychology, University of Alaska AnchorageBenjamin P Kowal - Department of Psychology, Washington State University
- Publication Details
- Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, Vol.13(3), pp.163-184
- Academic Unit
- Psychology, Department of
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association
- Identifiers
- 99900548155401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article