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Study advances understanding of cocaine effects

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

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