ABSTRACT
Drug addiction is a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drugseeking and use (Leshner 1997; McLellan et al. 2000; O’Brien et al. 1998; O’Brien and McLellan 1996). Long-lasting vulnerability to relapse has been recognized as a phenomenon pivotal for the understanding and treatment of drug addiction. Elucidation of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the chronically relapsing nature of addiction and identification of pharmacological treatment targets for relapse prevention has therefore emerged as the central issue of importance in addiction research. The clinical as well as experimental literature implicates three major factors precipitating craving and relapse. One of these is learned responses evoked by environmental stimuli that have become associated with the subjective actions
1.1 Introduction and Scope .....................................................................................1 1.1.1 The Neurobehavioral Basis of Drug Seeking and Relapse ..................1 1.1.2 Modeling Relapse in Animals ..............................................................3 1.1.3 Significance of Considering Dependence History in Animal
Models of Relapse .................................................................................5 1.2 Modeling the Incentive Effects of Drug Cues in Dependent Subjects .............8
