Dynamical state transitions into addictive behaviour and their early-warning signals.

ABSTRACT: The theory of critical transitions in complex systems (ecosystems, climate, etc.), and especially its ability to predict abrupt changes by early-warning signals based on analysis of fluctuations close to tipping points, is seen as a promising avenue to study disease dynamics. However, the biomedical field still lacks a clear demonstration of this concept. Here, we used a well-established animal model in which initial alcohol exposure followed by deprivation and subsequent reintroduction of alcohol induces excessive alcohol drinking as an example of disease onset. Intensive longitudinal data (ILD) of rat drinking behaviour and locomotor activity were acquired by a fully automated drinkometer device over 14 weeks. Dynamical characteristics of ILD were extracted using a multi-scale computatio

SUBMITTER: Foo JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5563804 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature