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Differential effects of environmental enrichment, social-housing, and isolation-rearing on a rat gambling task: Dissociations between impulsive action and risky decision-making

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Abstract

Rationale

Decision-making deficits, measured using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), are observed in many psychiatric populations. Additionally, evidence suggests that the environment also influences the development of these same disorders.

Objective

To determine the direct influence of the environment on decision-making by utilizing the rat gambling task (rGT), a risky decision-making test modeled after the IGT.

Methods

Male rats reared in isolation, in pairs, or in an enriched environment were trained on the rGT as adults. During the rGT, animals chose from four different options. The optimal strategy on the rGT and IGT is the same: to favor options associated with smaller immediate rewards and less punishment/loss. Impulsive action is also measured during rGT performance by recording the number of premature responses made, similar to the five-choice serial reaction time task.

Results

Compared to pair-housed rats, isolated and environmentally enriched rats were slower at learning the optimal strategy. However, following training, only isolation-reared rats chose the disadvantageous options more often. Amphetamine altered decision-making on the rGT in socially housed animals, yet isolates were unaffected. Conversely, amphetamine increased premature responding similarly in all groups. This increase was attenuated by prior administration of a dopamine D1 or D2 antagonist; however, the ability of amphetamine to alter decision-making was not blocked by either drug.

Conclusions

Housing environment affects animals’ ability to learn and perform a decision-making task. Additionally, amphetamine’s effect on impulsive action appears to be mediated by the dopaminergic system, whereas its effect on risky decision-making may be mediated by other neurotransmitters.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by an operating grant awarded to CAW from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). CAW also receives salary support through the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and the CIHR New Investigator Award program. We would like to thank Chris McKinnon for his enthusiasm and invaluable technical assistance.

Conflict of interest

CAW has previously consulted for Theravance on an unrelated matter. No authors have any other conflicts of interest or financial disclosures to make.

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  1. Fiona D. Zeeb

    Present address: Section of Biopsychology, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Fiona D. Zeeb, Adeline C. Wong & Catharine A. Winstanley

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  1. Fiona D. Zeeb
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  2. Adeline C. Wong
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Correspondence to Fiona D. Zeeb or Catharine A. Winstanley.

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Zeeb, F.D., Wong, A.C. & Winstanley, C.A. Differential effects of environmental enrichment, social-housing, and isolation-rearing on a rat gambling task: Dissociations between impulsive action and risky decision-making. Psychopharmacology 225, 381–395 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2822-x

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