Sex differences in a rat model of risky decision making.

摘要: Many debilitating psychiatric conditions, including drug addiction, are characterized by poor decision making and maladaptive risk-taking. Recent research has begun to probe this relationship determine how brain mechanisms mediating risk-taking become compromised after chronic use. Currently, however, the majority of work in field used male subjects. Given well-established sex differences it is conceivable that such also evident risk-based making. To test possibility, female adult rats were trained a risky task (RDT), which they chose between small, "safe" food reward large, "risky" accompanied an increasing probability mild footshock punishment. Consistent with findings human subjects, females more risk averse, choosing significantly less than males. This effect was not due shock reactivity or body weight, modulated estrous phase. Systemic amphetamine administration decreased both males females; exhibited greater sensitivity amphetamine, suggesting dopaminergic signaling may partially account for Finally, although displayed instrumental responding reward, choice RDT affected satiation, indicating motivation obtain cannot fully These results should prove useful developing targeted treatments conditions altered known differentially affect females.