Frontal cortical dysfunction is often investigated using reversal learning tasks. In reversal learning, expected outcomes are wrong requiring flexible behavior in response to outcomes that do not match those predicted by the preceding cues (Stalnaker et al. 2009). Reversal learning tasks in behavioral studies mimic the inability of drug addicted individuals to learn new healthy behaviors, when alcohol and other drugs have established strong associations. A frontal cortical signal is needed to indicate the value of decisions and is needed when new learning and/or behavior is necessary. We found that models of binge drinking induce persistent deficits in reversal learning in rats (Obernier et al. 2002) and in adult mice following a model of adolescent binge drinking (Coleman 2010). Other studies have found rats with previous experience either with self-administration of cocaine or with passive cocaine injections, are abnormally slow to learn reversals, even though they learn initial contingencies at a normal rate (Schoenbaum et al. 2004; Calu et al. 2007). Lesions of the frontal cortex cause reversal learning deficits in tasks similar to chronic drug abuse induced deficits (Schoenbaum
