Operant light self-administration may not be reinforcing beyond homeostasis, and habit learning in rodents may not translate well to human addiction

Translational animal models are central to understanding both substance and behavioural addictions. This commentary evaluates the proposal made by Tam and colleagues (Tam et al. 2025) that operant light self-administration in mice may serve as a rodent translational model for digital technology-based disorders. While the habit theory of addiction provides a compelling framework for understanding the transition from goal-directed to compulsive behaviour in rodents, evidence from human studies challenge its generalisability. Also considered is the proposition light can function as a primary reinforcer capable of supporting habit formation and draws parallels with the reinforcing properties of short-form video content on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Although promising as a model for studying visual reinforcement, the approach does not account for broader psychosocial and individual difference factors contributing to addiction. Research should identify the specific visual features that drive compulsive engagement and clarify whether similar neural mechanisms underlie both light-based and digital technology-related reinforcement.