Condicionamiento de preferencia de lugar: un modelo animal para evaluar las propiedades motivacionales de las drogas

This article investigated the Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) technique as a useful model for studying the motivational\udproperties of drugs of abuse. The background of the technique is presented. Methodological issues that need to\udbe considered when designing a study using CPP are discussed. These issues include the different types of apparatus\udavailable, the different phases of the protocol and its possible variations, the type of design (biased vs unbiased), and\udthe need to consider time effects. We discuss data interpretation issues, such what the animal learns, the presentation\udof the dependent variable, the influence of novelty, state-dependent learning, latent inhibition, the motor and cognitive\udeffects of drugs, and comparison with data from the drug self-administration model. The main applications,\udadvantages, and limitations of the technique are presented. We offer some proposals to address the main criticisms\udof this model