In surveying the literature on contributions of the DYN/KOR system to motivational effects of ethanol, it is apparent that several models and experimental paradigms have been employed to broadly examine this issue. However, more comprehensive behavioral analysis would be helpful in better defining the role of this neuropeptide system in ethanol actions as well as clarifying discrepancies in the extant literature. For example, to our knowledge, no studies have examined how changes in DYN/KOR activity following chronic ethanol exposure may influence ethanol conditioned reward (or aversion). Most studies examining the role of DYN/KOR activity in ethanol withdrawal-related dysphoria have focused on anxiety and have utilized the elevated-plus maze procedure (e.g., Gillett et al., 2013; Schank et al., 2012a; Valdez et al., 2012). Expanding analysis to other behavioral indices of anxiety would further strengthen the purported link between upregulated DYN/KOR system and dysphoria/negative affect associated with ethanol withdrawal. Behavioral measures of anhedonia (e.g., brain stimulation reward model utilizing intracranial self-stimulation procedures) would be useful and also may provide opportunities to track the time course of such behavioral changes in relation to
