Human laboratory models offer an opportunity to examine the effects of GXE interactions on ‘translational phenotypes’ that bridge human and animal models (Hutchison, 2008). Translational phenotypes can be derived from either animal or human studies that are designed to elucidate the neuroanatomical and pharmacological mechanisms that underlie the etiology of addiction. For example, animal models can help identify and evaluate GXE interactions comparing animals with different genetic backgrounds that are exposed to specific environmental variables. Likewise, human laboratory models can be used to compare humans that differ on specific polymorphisms and have been exposed to specific environmental manipulations.
