Deep Brain Stimulation as a Treatment for Drug Addiction in a Rat Model

Source: Batra, V., et al. A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration. J. Vis. Exp. (2016).This video demonstrates a rat model of drug addiction in which the animal self-administers intravenous methamphetamine by pressing a lever, leading to compulsive drug-seeking behavior driven by dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. To counteract this, the rat undergoes deep brain stimulation (DBS) via an implanted bipolar electrode, delivering high-frequency pulses to inhibit hyperactive neurons in the nucleus accumbens. The effects of DBS are then evaluated by observing changes in drug-seeking behavior, revealing its potential to reduce addiction-related responses.