Editorial: Bridging the gap between animal models and human addiction: exploring translational paradigms

Editorial on the Research Topic "Bridging the Gap Between Animal Models and Human Addiction: 12Exploring Translational Paradigms". 13Decades of research have tried to identify the mechanisms underlying both the onset and the 14 long-term maintenance of addictive behaviors. How and why can an initially arbitrary activity, such 15 as watching TV series, drinking alcohol or gambling on sport events, become so central in an 16individual's life, and so compulsive that it will overtake all other activities? Classic substance-related 17 addictions have primarily been conceptualized through their reinforcing properties on specific brain 18 networks, i.e., the mesolimbic circuit, and more precisely, the nucleus accumbens within the ventral 19 striatum. Repeated exposure to an addictive substance promotes the encoding of its rewarding 20 properties, acting as a reinforcement learning signal, increasing incentive salience and stimulating 21 motor action.