Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41870532›Full record

ArticlePsychopharmacology2026

Chronic semaglutide treatment enhances the incentive motivational value of a small food reward and associated cue in male and female rats.

Stephen E Chang, Christopher A Turner, Natalia Morales Pagán, Daniela Pereira, Sophia Kleer, Shelly B Flagel

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Article in Psychopharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Stephen E ChangMichigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Christopher A TurnerMichigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Natalia Morales PagánNeuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Daniela PereiraNeuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Sophia KleerMichigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Shelly B FlagelMichigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. sflagel@med.umich.edu.

Funding

University of Michigan Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (UM PREP)R25GM086262 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI ALLEN, BENJAMIN · 2009 to 2024
$6.1M
NIDA Training Program in Neuroscience-Administrative SupplementT32DA007281 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Shelly Beth Flagel · 1995 to 2026
$5.7M
Postdoctoral Training in the Biology of Drug AbuseT32DA060142 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI John R. Traynor · 2024 to 2026
$1.5M
NIDA NIH HHS T32 DA007281NIDA NIH HHS T32DA007281NIDA NIH HHS T32 DA060142NIDA NIH HHS T32DA060142NIGMS NIH HHS R25 GM086262NIH-National Institute of General Medical Sciences R25GM086262University of Michigan Research Scouts Program OORRS033123
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationaleGlucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, are increasingly utilized in clinical practice due to their efficacy in promoting sustained weight loss following chronic administration. While acute treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists has been shown to suppress food intake and reward-seeking behaviors in rodent models, the impact of prolonged exposure on preclinical measures of motivated behavior remains insufficiently characterized.

objectivesThis study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of chronic administration of semaglutide on both the acquisition and expression phases of Pavlovian conditioned approach (PavCA), a behavioral paradigm used to assess the attribution of incentive salience to a food-paired cue. The influence of chronic semaglutide on the conditioned reinforcing properties of the food-associated cue, performance on a progressive ratio (PR) schedule for food reward, and ad libitum consumption of the food reward were also assessed.

resultsChronic semaglutide administration did not significantly alter either the acquisition or the expression of PavCA behavior. However, relative to vehicle-treated controls, semaglutide markedly enhanced responding for the food-associated cue during a conditioned reinforcement test and increased PR responding for the food reward. In contrast, semaglutide reduced both free consumption of the food reward and homecage chow intake.

conclusionsThese findings demonstrate that chronic semaglutide administration potentiates the incentive value of food-paired cues and increases motivation for food reward under restricted access conditions, yet attenuates overall food consumption when food is freely available. This dissociation highlights the nuanced effects of semaglutide on motivated behavior and suggests an amplification of the reinforcing properties of discrete, limited food rewards and associated cues.

Indexed as

GLP-1Incentive salienceRewardSemaglutideSign-tracking

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.