Examining the Biocorrelates of Incubated Methamphetamine Craving

Methamphetamine (MA), one of the most widely abused illicit drugs in the world, is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant and is classified as a schedule II drug given its high abuse potential. A major culprit of MA use disorder is intensified craving that occurs during withdrawal which potentiates MA-seeking behavior. This has been coined as ‘incubation of drug craving’. As seen in previous cocaine, heroin, and MA studies, the incubated craving persists in the rat model with prolonged withdrawal. Given the propensity of craving to intensify with protracted withdrawal, this project examined the biocorrelates of incubated methamphetamine in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC), Insula, and Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC). Considering that MA is in the same drug class as cocaine, we hypothesize that the incubation of craving for these psychostimulants are mediated by similar neural-mechanisms, including similar neuroadaptations in mTOR signaling in frontal cortical brain regions.