Novelty seeking behavior

In recent years, a growing body of evidence has accumulated to suggest that novelty-seeking behavior may be mediated by the VTA-MFB-Acb mesolimbic DA system (Bardo, Donahew, and Harrington 1996). For example, novelty-provoked locomotor behavior in rodents is blocked by Acb microinjections of DA antagonists (Hooks and Kativas... 

In contrast to these data on the dopamine D2, the contribution of dopamine D4 polymorphisms to disease is less well understood— although increased levels of dopamine D4 receptor expression in schizophrenia appear to be reproducible in independent studies [71, 72] and may be associated with a Vall94Gly polymorphism [68, 69]. Disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [74-77] and novelty-seeking behavior [78-80] have also been associated with the D4 dopamine receptor, albeit not consistently [74-80]. 

Fernandez-Teruel A, DriscoU P, Gil L, Tobena A, Escorihuela RM (2002) Enduring effects of environmental enrichment on novelty seeking, saccharin and ethanol intake in two rat lines (RHA/Verh and RLA/Verh) differing in incentive-seeking behavior. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 73 225-231... 

At the same time, excessive novelty seeking or sensation seeking may be patently disadvantageous where behavioral inhibition is necessary to avoid predation or other dangerous circumstances. 

Bardo, Michael T., Robert L. Donohew, and Nancy G. Harrington. 1996. "Psychobiology of Novelty-Seeking and Drug-Seeking Behavior." Behavioural Brain Research 77 23-43. 

Shumake, J., Barrett, D., and Gonazalez-Lima, F. (2005). Behavioral characteristics of rats predisposed to learned helplessness Reduced reward sensitivity, increased novelty seeking, and persistent fear memories. Bekav. Brain Res. 164, 222-230. 

Bardo MT, Donohew RL, Harrington NG (1996) Psychobiology of novelty seeking and drug seeking behavior. Behav Brain Res 77 23-43. 

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