Environmental enrichment (EE) for rodents is generally defined as providing subjects with an environment enhanced with access to conspecifics, novel and tactile stimuli, and in many preparations, more space. EE exposure, in particular as an “intervention” in adult rodents, decreases food and drug seeking and taking. This review focuses on the reduction of sucrose seeking and taking in rats assessed in operant-based procedures. The operant-based model provides a means to evaluate addiction-related behaviors. Findings using the model might translate to clinically-relevant addiction behaviors directed towards both drugs and food. Both overnight (acute) and one month (chronic) EE effects on behavior are described, including a recent evaluation of the persistence of EE effects following its removal. EE effects on neurobiology related to sucrose seeking using the model are outlined, with a special emphasis on meso-cortico-limbic terminals. Overall, our working hypothesis for how EE reduces sucrose seeking and taking is that EE alters processing of incentive valence. This may also be accompanied by changes in learning and affect. Anti-seeking and anti-taking effects of EE have translational implications for the prevention and treatment of both drug addiction and food-focused behaviors (“food addiction”).

啮齿动物的环境富集（EE）通常被定义为为受试者提供一种环境，该环境可以通过获得特异性，新颖和触觉刺激以及在许多准备工作中获得更多空间来增强。EE暴露，尤其是对成年啮齿动物的“干预”，减少了食物和药物的获取和服用。这篇综述着重于减少以操作人员为基础的程序评估大鼠的蔗糖寻找和摄取。基于操作者的模型提供了一种评估成瘾相关行为的方法。使用该模型的发现可能会转化为针对药物和食品的与临床相关的成瘾行为。描述了过夜（急性）和一个月（慢性）的EE对行为的影响，包括最近对去除EE后持久性影响的评估。概述了EE对使用该模型寻求蔗糖相关的神经生物学的影响，并特别着重于中皮质皮质边缘末端。总体而言，我们关于EE如何减少蔗糖寻找和摄取的有效假设是EE会改变激励价的处理。这也可能伴随着学习和情感的变化。EE的反寻求和反服用作用对于预防和治疗药物成瘾和以食物为中心的行为（“食物成瘾”）具有转化意义。