The Neurobiology of Addiction Research Center (NARC)
Dr. Ron See
The animal core trains rats to self-administer cocaine or heroin, making them available to the various primary and pilot projects to evaluate addiction-related changes in brain biochemistry and physiology, as well as to behaviorally evaluate new drugs as pharmacotherapy for treating addiction. In addition, the animal core is conducting studies to extend and evaluate advances in animal models of addiction. For example, we are investigating the value of short versus long access of the rats to drug. Recent studies point to the possibility that giving rats longer access to drug each day more accurately mimics human addiction. We are examining changes in brain biochemistry and physiology after long access to help determine if this is true.