A new study shows cocaine promotes habitual behaviours in users which can also be limited with the use of an antioxidant.
The research looked at the effects of long-term cocaine exposure in rats and tested their reward-seeking behaviour using food. There were changes in regions of the cocaine exposed rats’ brains needed to make flexible decisions, rather than in the habit-forming part of the brain.
However, rats which also took an antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine, in addition to cocaine did not experience these changes to their brains.
Read more at University of Sydney