Alcoholism Effect

Summary Section

Introduction and Hypothesis

The article I have chosen focuses their research on the after effect of those affected by alcoholism. Alcoholism is a very common disorder that affects many people in our country making this study gain importance, as there is much to learn. By gaining knowledge and understanding about the actual after effects of alcoholism the psychology community can better the help they lend to those who suffer with different forms of withdrawals and after math’s of alcohol. It is unknown at this point if there even is a increase or decrease in brain reward function when following stopping of alcohol. This study focused exactly on whether there is indeed a true effect on the reward function along with anxiety
Each rat was kept in a single housed area with controlled temperature and humidity, lights would turn on and off at the same time. Each rat was prepared by an 11-mm electrode within the medial forebrain bundle. Each rat began eating regular lab chow and it was slowly changed to lieber DeCarli liquid diet, experiments 1 and 2 had 36% of calories taken from alcohol, while experiment 3 had 48%taken from alcohol. Each control rat was paired with an alcohol rat based off of weight, and then each pair was fed an exactly same amount of liquid diet. Each rat’s body weighs and amount of the liquid diet was recorded. Maze testing was done in order to display levels of anxiety, here a figuration containing 4 arms two of which where open and two of which where closed off, the rats would be placed in the center and allowed to explore for 5 minuets, there actions where measured and analyzed by observer 5.0 software. Blood alcohol was measured in the rats by using tail
There was the initiation of the liquid diet, 12 weeks of specific doses of alcohol was provided to each rat. They placed 4 two-day withdrawal periods nearing the end of the weeks 3,4,5 and 12. They would record brain reward thresholds where recorded through ICSS at hours 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, after the removal of alcohol. Blood samples where also taken to measure what the blood alcohol level is. Experiment 2 would have the rats begin there liquid diets, after 2 weeks the rats where then stabilized on brain reward thresholds. The rats where then tested each day when 12 weeks had passed the liquid diet was replaced with control diet shorty after assessing the brain reward threshold and response latencies. Each animal was tested in elevated plus maze 30 hours after the stoppage of alcohol. Experiment 3 consisted of each alcohol rat to maintain concentration for 12 weeks then would withhold the alcohol and then have the rats be tested in the elevated plus maze. Some of the alcohol-withdrawing rats would in fact have seizures when being tested; blood samples where also taken in order to see alcohol levels. After the sessions of testing both groups would continue on just control liquid diet to allow the analysis of alcohol dependency and anxiety provoked by a stressor. After this analysis using the elevated plus maze as an anxiety measure the alcohol was reintroduced. And then yet again measures the brain