Dorsomedial and dorsolateral striatum exhibit distinct phasic neuronal activity during alcohol self-administration in rats

The development of alcoholism may involve a shift from goal-directed to habitual drinking. These action control systems are distinct in the dorsal striatum, with the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) important for goal-directed behavior and the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) required for habit formation.

Goal-directed behavior can be modeled in rats with a fixed ratio (FR) reinforcement schedule,