In contrast to aversive associative learning, little is known regarding the role of BLA eCB signaling in appetitively-motivated learning. Parsons and coworkers investigated the role of eCB signaling in the BLA in appetitive instrumental learning (Alvarez-Jaimes et al., 2008). They utilized a heroine self-administration paradigm to study the role eCB signaling in cue-induced relapse behavior and found that blockade of CB1 receptors in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens prevented cue-induced drug seeking behavior, whereas blockade of CB1 receptors in the BLA had no effect (Alvarez-Jaimes et al., 2008).
