Reena Sharif
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Emily Jutkiewicz
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Pharmacology / Medicine
Program:
Authors: Reena Sharif, Emily Jutkiewicz
Session: Session 2: 10:00 am – 10:50 am
Poster: 53
Abstract
Previous researchers have theorized that individuals who have had long-term drug exposure or have developed a psychiatric condition have deficits in cognitive flexibility. To better understand the effects of opioids on cognitive flexibility, we aim to investigate whether the mu-opioid receptor agonist, morphine, or the delta opioid receptor agonist, SNC 80, alters extra-dimensional shift testing, a measure of cognitive flexibility, which involves learning and transitioning between dimensional tasks. We hypothesize that both morphine and SNC 80 will decrease cognitive flexibility in this paradigm. Female and male C57BL/6N mice were trained to make operant responses in an illuminated port to earn 10 microliters of vanilla-flavored Ensure. Then mice learned to respond only on the manipulandum with a cue light above for a maximum of 10 reinforcers. Following injections of either morphine or SNC 80 (3 mg/kg, s.c.), mice had to switch behavioral strategies and learn that responding on the non-cued side resulted in reinforcer delivery. Days to acquisition was defined by < 20% errors in responding on the reinforcer-associated manipulandum. Our preliminary data demonstrate that SNC80 decreases days to acquisition during the extra-dimensional shift, but morphine increases days to acquisition. Overall, these data would suggest that mu-opioid receptor activation produces larger disruptions in cognitive flexibility than delta-opioid receptor activation. These studies help inform our understanding of the mechanisms of action of opioids.
