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Taffe Laboratory
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Research in the Primate Neurobehavioral Laboratory focuses on brain substrates which subserve cognitive function and complex behavior. Ongoing efforts in the laboratory study the etiology of cognitive dysfunction associated with exposure to drugs of abuse.

Cognitive Effects of Exposure to Abused Drugs

    Individuals who chronically ingest recreational drugs have been shown to exhibit a number of cognitive or behavioral impairments. Conclusive linking of such behavioral problems to a specific drug or pattern of intake is complicated by the fact that most drug users have substantial rates of exposure to multiple drugs of abuse. In particular exposure to alcohol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and nicotine is common in users of most other drugs. Furthermore, it is impossible to demonstrate that cognitive performance levels in recreational users are not merely a reflection of pre-existing group differences. Thus animal models are necessary to demonstrate a causal relationship between a pecific pattern of drug exposure and behavioral or cognitive impairment.

   Current projects in the laboratory focus on the lasting cognitive effects of exposure to CNS-altering regimens of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or "Ecstasy"). We are also investigating the manner by which chronic alcohol drinking in adolescent animals leads to disruption of spatial working memory and other executive functions. Our participation in the Translational Center on the Clinical Neurobiology of Cannabis Addiction tests the hypothesis that chronic exposure to THC in adolescent monkeys impairs executive function, thereby leading to increased vulnerability to repetitive consumption and addiction.

Substance Abuse Therapy

Methamphetamine Addiction: Addiction to d-methamphetamine (METH) interferes with many aspects of personal health, vocational performance, interpersonal relationships and financial well being. Behavioral consequences of METH abuse and the METH trade also strain legal and emergency medical resources throughout the US. Current therapeutic approaches for METH addiction are less than completely effective and no approved pharmacotherapies for METH addiction exist.
    Recent successes in early clinical trials using immunotherapeutic approaches for cocaine and nicotine addiction have motivated interest in creating similar approaches for methamphetamine addiction. The studies currently underway will create candidate active vaccines specific for METH (MCV) and evaluate the most promising candidates in a cascade of in vivo models.

Physical Exercise: Epidemiological evidence shows that adolescents and adults who are involved in consistent vigorous exercise may be at reduced risk of recreational drug use. However social contexts that influence both exercise and drug taking make it difficult, if not impossible, to infer a specific protective effect. Our studies attempt to model different ways in which physical exercise may influence drug taking using rat intravenous self-administration and activity wheel models.
Miller, M.L., Vaillancourt, B.D., Wright Jr., M.J., Aarde, S.M., Vandewater, S.A., Creehan, K.M. and Taffe, M.A. Reciprocal inhibitory effects of intravenous d-methamphetamine self-administration and wheel activity in rats, Drug Alcohol Depend, 2011 Sep 5 [Epub ahead of print] [ PubMed Abstract ]

   The Taffe Laboratory is supported by USPHS Grants R01 DA024105, R01 DA024705and R01 AA016807 .

Previous work has been supported by USPHS grants P20 DA024194, P60 AA006420, R01 DA18418, R21 AA013972, R01 DA13390, R01 MH61692 and P30 MH62261.