Animal models in addiction research

Abstract

Animal models have provided valuable insights into the brain mechanisms of drug -addiction, including the elucidation of neural substrates that support the primary reinforcing effects of widely abused drugs such as cocaine and heroin and the long-term consequences of drug addiction for neurocognitive functioning. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in developing animal models that closely resemble the clinical features of drug addiction according to published diagnostic guidelines especially in the domain of compulsive drug use which represents the final stage of a progressive series of neural and psychological alterations induced by chronic drug exposure. In this chapter, we review a number of animal models used in addiction research and discuss their relevance and explanatory utility to the different stages of the addiction cycle.