The central nervous system (CNS) governs essential physiological processes including cognition, emotion, motor coordination and behavior. Disorders affecting the central nervous system represent a significant global health burden, necessitating the development of effective and safe pharmacological interventions. Preclinical evaluation plays a crucial role in central nervous system discovery by enabling the assessment of therapeutic efficacy, safety and mechanisms of action before clinical translation. Various experimental models have been developed to study central nervous system pharmacology, including behavioral paradigms and seizure models. This review summarizes widely used preclinical models such as the Open Field Test, Elevated Plus Maze, Rotarod Test, Morris Water Maze, pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures and maximal electroshock-induced seizures, highlighting their applications, advantages and limitations in central nervous system drug development^1-3.