Animal models related to developmental disorders: Theoretical and pharmacological analyses

One consequence of rapid advances in the neurosciences has been the use of animal models of developmental disorders. Three general approaches to the establishment of such models were discussed with particular reference to hyperkinesis. We concluded that, despite the employment of sophisticated physiological techniques, animal models suffer from a number of conceptual and empirical weaknesses, and have yet to offer major pragmatic gains. Careful intercalation of complementary preclinical studies and carefully controlled clinical investigations would seem the most promising approach.