A rat is trained to self-administer cocaine. Saline is substituted for the cocaine solution, which results in extinction of responding. In this situation, the capacity for a "free" shot of cocaine to reinstate responding for cocaine can be blocked by
A) injection of AMPA into the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
B) injection of a dopamine agonist into the nucleus accumbens.
C) glutamate induced activation of the ventral tegmental area.
D) injection of a dopamine agonist into the prefrontal cortex.
E) injection of glycine into the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Injection of AMPA into the ventromedial prefrontal cortex can block the capacity for a "free" shot of cocaine to reinstate responding for cocaine. This is because AMPA receptors are involved in the signaling pathways that underlie the reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. By increasing AMPA receptor activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the signal for drug seeking can be blocked. The other options may have effects on dopamine or glutamate signaling in other brain regions, but they are not directly related to the reinstatement of drug seeking in this specific experimental context.

A Rat Is Trained to Self-Administer Cocaine