As a PhD candidate deeply interested in the study of compulsive behaviours, my research endeavours are driven by the urgent need to establish robust translational models in the lab. These models hold critical significance for advancing therapeutic interventions across a spectrum of disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia. My primary focus revolves around refining experimental protocols and delving into the underlying mechanisms governing habitual actions that later progress to compulsive-like behaviours. Building off work from our lab, this will encompass understanding how cortical inputs to the striatum influence the acquisition of goal-directed and habitual actions, as well as this transition from habitual to compulsive behaviour. Central to this pursuit is the exploration of distinct behavioural profiles throughout these transitions, using sophisticated behavioural analysis techniques. Presently, the implementation of such techniques has seen limited use in instrumental contexts, demonstrating a worthwhile gap for investigation.