This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This study is in three parts. The first part is intended to develop a tool to assess changes in dopamine in the human brain in response to reinforcing stimuli. This will be done by slowing down the re-absorption of dopamine back into the cells by giving the subject oral methylphenidate (Ritalin). Previously, reabsorbtion after reinforcing stimuli have been presented was too fast to detect changes. In the second part of the study, responses for the reinforcing stimuli between cocaine abusers and controls will be compared. In the third part of the study, 10 obese subjects who participated in a comparable study will be questioned regarding eating behavior and their PET scans from the previous study will be looked at to see if different eating behaviors in obese subjects produce differences in dopamine activity.
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