Dopamine receptor sensitivity and Pavlovian conditioned approach

This research is situated within the established paradigm of behavioral neuroscience that investigates the neurobiological underpinnings of addiction. Specifically, it operates within the incentive-salience theory of addiction, which posits that the mesolimbic dopamine system mediates the attribution of motivational value to reward-associated cues. The study uses the Pavlovian Conditioned Approach (PavCA) model, distinguishing between "sign-tracking" and "goal-tracking" phenotypes, as a standard experimental framework to explore individual differences in addiction vulnerability.

This paper exemplifies Normal Science by conducting "puzzle-solving" research. It does not challenge the core tenets of the dopamine and incentive-salience theories of addiction but seeks to articulate and refine them. The study uses established methodologies and pharmacological tools to investigate a specific, unanswered question within the paradigm: how individual differences in dopamine D1 and D2 receptor sensitivity relate to cue-reactivity and cocaine sensitivity. The findings extend previous work by demonstrating a combined role for both receptor subtypes, thereby adding detail and precision to the existing theoretical framework without introducing revolutionary anomalies.