Systematic review of the effects of exercise on rodent models of drug addiction

Drug addiction is a chronic and relapsing brain disease for which there are currently no effective treatments. Animal models play an irreplaceable role in elucidating the mechanisms of addiction and evaluating intervention strategies. In recent years, exercise, as a non-pharmacological intervention, has shown potential in improving drug-addictive behaviors and related neuroadaptive changes. This article systematically reviews the effects of exercise in five typical rodent models of drug addiction (physical dependence, behavioral sensitization, conditioned place preference, drug discrimination, and self-administration) and their underlying neural mechanisms, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of exercise interventions in addiction treatment.