Data from rodent models examining the effects of acute drug-of-abuse exposure on risky decision-making have yielded mixed results. Morphine and ethanol did not have significant effects on behavior in the Risky Decision-Making Task.220 Acute nicotine administration241 and amphetamine222 increased selection of the large/risky lever in the Probabilistic Discounting Task where the risk is for a time-out. On the other hand, a lower dose of nicotine and higher dose range of amphetamine decreased selection of the risky lever in the Risky Decision-Making Task, where subjects risk a foot shock.220, 242 While non-linear effects of drugs on behavior are not atypical, it appears here that the nature of punishment (reward forfeiture versus active shock) may also modulate the effect of these drugs on choice behavior.
