Dopamine Receptor Agonism in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell During Aversive Learning or Memory Retrieval: Differential Effects Depending on the Degree of Sugar Familiarity.

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Title: Dopamine Receptor Agonism in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell During Aversive Learning or Memory Retrieval: Differential Effects Depending on the Degree of Sugar Familiarity.
Authors: Miranda, María‐Isabel (AUTHOR), Ataucusi, Yulisa (AUTHOR), Vera‐Rivera, Gabriela (AUTHOR)
Source: European Journal of Neuroscience. Jul2026, Vol. 64 Issue 1, p1-12. 12p.
Subjects: Nucleus accumbens, Dopamine receptors, Avoidance conditioning, Familiarity (Psychology), Recollection (Psychology), Conditioned response, Approach behavior
Abstract: Sugar provides energy and activates several processing pathways, including the reward and memory systems, both of which are essential for feeding behavior and modulating the amount and frequency of consumption. Accordingly, the conditioned taste aversion (CTA) model allows the study of the underlying mechanisms of flavor processing and aversive learning, as well as the phenomenon of latent inhibition (LI) of CTA. It has previously been demonstrated that the nucleus accumbens, particularly the core region, is required for appetitive and aversive taste learning. However, recent evidence suggests that the nucleus accumbens shell (NACsh) is involved in the transition and updating of appetitive memories. The present study evaluated changes in NACsh dopamine receptor function during aversive learning (CTA) and during memory retrieval, assessing their role as a function of the degree of sugar familiarity (e.g., LI of CTA). To this end, we evaluated the effect of agonist apomorphine injections into the NACsh during acquisition and memory retrieval of CTA, as well as during the LI of CTA after rats became familiar (3 days, S3d) or highly familiar (24 days, S24d) with sugar. The results indicated that dopaminergic agonism in the NACsh impairs the appetitive response to novel sugar without affecting CTA, but it also accelerates aversive memory extinction. Moreover, when dopamine receptor activation occurred after a few isolated sugar consumptions (S3d), it did not affect the LI of CTA. However, if the same activation occurred after weeks of permanent sugar consumption (S24d), the LI of CTA increased significantly, and the appetitive sugar response was also enhanced in subsequent presentations. Furthermore, apomorphine injections before CTA retrieval significantly delay aversive memory extinction without affecting aversive recall or the LI of CTA, regardless of familiarity. This work helps elucidate the modulatory role of dopaminergic activity in the NACsh during familiarization with a highly hedonic stimulus and its update during aversive conditioning and memory retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of European Journal of Neuroscience is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Dopamine Receptor Agonism in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell During Aversive Learning or Memory Retrieval: Differential Effects Depending on the Degree of Sugar Familiarity.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Miranda%2C+María‐Isabel%22">Miranda, María‐Isabel</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ataucusi%2C+Yulisa%22">Ataucusi, Yulisa</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vera‐Rivera%2C+Gabriela%22">Vera‐Rivera, Gabriela</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22European+Journal+of+Neuroscience%22">European Journal of Neuroscience</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 64 Issue 1, p1-12. 12p.
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  Data: Sugar provides energy and activates several processing pathways, including the reward and memory systems, both of which are essential for feeding behavior and modulating the amount and frequency of consumption. Accordingly, the conditioned taste aversion (CTA) model allows the study of the underlying mechanisms of flavor processing and aversive learning, as well as the phenomenon of latent inhibition (LI) of CTA. It has previously been demonstrated that the nucleus accumbens, particularly the core region, is required for appetitive and aversive taste learning. However, recent evidence suggests that the nucleus accumbens shell (NACsh) is involved in the transition and updating of appetitive memories. The present study evaluated changes in NACsh dopamine receptor function during aversive learning (CTA) and during memory retrieval, assessing their role as a function of the degree of sugar familiarity (e.g., LI of CTA). To this end, we evaluated the effect of agonist apomorphine injections into the NACsh during acquisition and memory retrieval of CTA, as well as during the LI of CTA after rats became familiar (3 days, S3d) or highly familiar (24 days, S24d) with sugar. The results indicated that dopaminergic agonism in the NACsh impairs the appetitive response to novel sugar without affecting CTA, but it also accelerates aversive memory extinction. Moreover, when dopamine receptor activation occurred after a few isolated sugar consumptions (S3d), it did not affect the LI of CTA. However, if the same activation occurred after weeks of permanent sugar consumption (S24d), the LI of CTA increased significantly, and the appetitive sugar response was also enhanced in subsequent presentations. Furthermore, apomorphine injections before CTA retrieval significantly delay aversive memory extinction without affecting aversive recall or the LI of CTA, regardless of familiarity. This work helps elucidate the modulatory role of dopaminergic activity in the NACsh during familiarization with a highly hedonic stimulus and its update during aversive conditioning and memory retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of European Journal of Neuroscience is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/ejn.70609
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Nucleus accumbens
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dopamine receptors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Avoidance conditioning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Familiarity (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Recollection (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Conditioned response
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Approach behavior
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Dopamine Receptor Agonism in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell During Aversive Learning or Memory Retrieval: Differential Effects Depending on the Degree of Sugar Familiarity.
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            NameFull: Miranda, María‐Isabel
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            NameFull: Ataucusi, Yulisa
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            NameFull: Vera‐Rivera, Gabriela
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            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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