CONDITIONED PLACE PREFERENCE Meaning and
Definition
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Conditioned place preference (CPP) is a behavioral test used in neuroscience and psychology to measure the rewarding effects of drugs or other stimuli on an individual. It is based on the concept of classical conditioning, where an association is developed between the place (environment) and the rewarding stimulus.
In CPP, a subject is placed in a specially designed apparatus with two distinctive compartments. The subject's preference for each compartment is initially assessed without the presence of any stimulus. Then, a rewarding stimulus (such as a drug) is administered, and the subject is confined to one compartment. On subsequent trials, the rewarding stimulus is paired with the opposite compartment, while the non-preferred compartment is paired with a neutral stimulus or no stimulus at all. This training phase is aimed at conditioning the subject's preference for the compartment associated with the rewarding stimulus.
After the conditioning phase, the subject is allowed to freely explore both compartments. An increase in the time spent in the compartment associated with the rewarding stimulus compared to the neutral stimulus is indicative of the development of conditioned place preference. The strength of CPP is typically quantified by measuring time spent in each compartment or by using specialized software to analyze the subject's behavior.
Conditioned place preference is widely used in research to study the neural mechanisms underlying drug addiction, reward-related learning, and other behavioral responses. By using CPP, researchers can gain insights into the rewarding properties of various stimuli and their potential impact on behavior and addiction.
