Kevin T. Ball

2 papers in the library · 40 citations · publishing 2006-2012

Papers

Context‐dependent behavioural and neuronal sensitization in striatum to MDMA (ecstasy) administration in rats

European Journal of Neuroscience July 1, 2006 Kevin T. Ball, Daniel Budreau, George V. Rebec 40 citations

Repeated exposure to MDMA (ecstasy) produces a sensitized locomotor response in rats only when the drug is experienced in the same environment where the response is later tested. Recording from over 200 striatal neurons showed that sensitized rats had a decreased baseline firing rate in neurons later excited by MDMA, leading to a greater percentage increase from baseline on challenge day. This suggests that contextual associations are critical for the expression of behavioral sensitization to MDMA and that the striatum is involved in the neurobehavioral changes from repeated use.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.04885.x

Differential involvement of prelimbic and infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex in discrete cue-induced reinstatement of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ecstasy) seeking in rats.

Psychopharmacology December 1, 2012 Kevin T. Ball, Mylissa Slane

Inactivating a specific part of the prefrontal cortex in rats completely blocked cue-triggered relapse to MDMA (ecstasy) seeking. The prelimbic (PL) subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex is necessary for this relapse behavior, while the neighboring infralimbic (IL) subregion is not. This mirrors the neural mechanism seen in cocaine relapse, suggesting a common brain pathway for drug-seeking reinstatement across different substances. The effect was specific to drug-seeking and not due to general motor impairment, as food-seeking behavior remained unaffected.

DOI: 10.1007/s00213-012-2762-5 Full text