Operant light self-administration in mice and its relevance to digital technology-based disorders
Shu K. E. Tam, Aleksandra Stryjska, Helene Gu, Benjamin Becker
Abstract
Behavioral addictions share symptomatological features with substance addiction. From the associative learning perspective, these characteristics include excessive and unregulated self-administration of sensory and other reinforcers, potentially reflecting the transition from goal-directed actions (action → outcome associations) to habitual responses (stimulus → response associations). In laboratory mice, light stimulation at an optimal intensity possesses some incentive properties and a brief light pulse represents an effective reinforcer for persistent operant responding. The operant light self-administration paradigm with clearly defined sensory reinforcers and reinforcement schedules may be utilized to elucidate the general mechanisms of excessive habitual responding to seek non-drug and non-feeding cues in mice. This cross-species approach can shed light on some maladaptive habits that have emerged recently in our modern society, including digital technology-based disorders.