Aberrant habit formation in the Sapap3-knockout mouse model of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

ABSTRACT: Motor behavior can be executed deliberately to achieve specific goals. With repetition, such behavior can become habitual and noncontingent on actions-outcomes. The formation of habits is a natural process that can become pathological, such as in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study used the Sapap3-knockout (KO) mouse model of OCD to assess habit formation based on reward devaluation. We also tested wildtype mice under different training and food-restriction schedules to assess the extent of natural habit formation. We found that Sapap3-KO mice were insensitive to the devaluation of a sucrose reward under conditions in which wildtype littermates were sensitive to devaluation. Moreover, food restriction favored goal-directed action in wildtype mice, whereas mice that were

SUBMITTER: Hadjas LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6700199 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature