Animal models relevant to digital technology-based disorders

Tam, Shu K. E. and Becker, Benjamin (2026) Animal models relevant to digital technology-based disorders. JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL ADDICTIONS, 15 (2). pp. 525-532. ISSN 2062-5871

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Abstract

Animal models utilizing Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning paradigms have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms underlying drug addiction and certain behavioral addiction such as gambling disorder, but so far there is no animal model for digital technology-based disorders such as (Internet) gaming disorder, which is an emerging issue in our digital society. Casile et al. (2025) introduced a rat touchscreen paradigm recapitulating several key phenotypes relevant to gaming disorder, including preoccupation with the touchscreen and behavioral persistence despite non-reinforcement. However, the paradigm's reliance on food reinforcers limits translational relevance. We suggest integrating Casile et al. touchscreen paradigm with non -food operant paradigms (e.g., light self-administration), to dissociate any intrinsic reinforcing effects of touchscreen interaction and response-contingent sensory feedback from hedonic values of food. Potential differences in sensory habituation between rats and mice highlight the need for cross-species comparisons, to distinguish species-specific responses from general behavioral mechanisms in non-human animals and humans. While animal models cannot fully capture the multifaceted nature of digital technology-based disorders, they provide simplified models to examine how behavioral persistence can be shaped and maintained by non-food, non-drug reinforcement contingencies without the influence of cultural and social factors.

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