Translational Research on Incubation of Cocaine Craving

Abstract

In 1986, Gawin and Kleber 1 proposed that cue-induced cocaine craving increases progressively during early abstinence and remains high during extended periods. However, subsequent inpatient clinical studies in the late 1980s have shown that baseline (nonprovoked) craving for cocaine decreases progressively during the first month of abstinence. 2 Consequently, the hypothesis by Gawin and Kleber 1 was not empirically tested in clinical studies on the time course of cue-induced cocaine craving during abstinence and was largely forgotten. More than a decade later, and largely independent of the early clinical literature, studies using animal models of relapse 3 have shown that the rat's drug-seeking response to cues associated with cocaine (Figure) [4][5][6][7] and other abused drugs 8 increases progressively after cessation of drug self-administration, a phenomenon termed incubation of drug craving. 7

Incubation of food craving in rats: A review

“…Incubation of craving has subsequently been observed in rodent models for a variety of drugs of abuse (Li, Venniro, & Shaham, 2016) and for foods including sucrose solution (Fig. 2, Methods detailed below), standard, and high-fat chow pellets (Darling, Dingess, Schlidt, Smith, & Brown, 2016;Grimm, Fyall, & Osincup, 2005;Grimm et al, 2003;Krasnova et al, 2014).…”

Incubation of craving: a Bayesian account

“…It was not until 15 years later did Grimm and colleagues provide the first laboratory-based neuroscience evidence supporting the initial finding from Gawin and Kleber using cocaine-dependent rats and coin the term “ incubation of craving ” [ 2 ]. Since then, cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating incubation of craving for various addictive substances have been extensively studied in rodents (see [ 3 – 5 ] for reviews); yet in humans, such studies are still rare (see [ 6 – 9 ] for a few examples). Furthermore, current findings on the incubation of craving do not fully converge [ 5 ].…”

“…Since then, cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating incubation of craving for various addictive substances have been extensively studied in rodents (see [ 3 – 5 ] for reviews); yet in humans, such studies are still rare (see [ 6 – 9 ] for a few examples). Furthermore, current findings on the incubation of craving do not fully converge [ 5 ]. For example, while some studies suggest that craving steadily increases during early abstinence [ 2 , 6 , 10 , 11 ], others show that beyond a certain time point, craving may decrease during a later stage of abstinence [ 7 , 12 , 13 ].…”

β1-Adrenoceptor in the Central Amygdala Is Required for Unconditioned Stimulus-Induced Drug Memory Reconsolidation

“…Consequently, exposure to drug-associated environmental cues can evoke various degrees of psychological dependence or compulsive drug taking ( Cadet et al, 2014 ; Wise and Koob, 2014 ). A major challenge in the treatment of drug addiction is drug relapse, which can occur even after prolonged abstinence ( Meil and See, 1996 ; Li et al, 2016 ). Therefore, treatments that weaken the strength of drug-associated memories represent a potential clinical prevention method for addicted individuals.…”