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The Use of the Puzzle Box as a Means of Assessing the Efficacy of Environmental Enrichment
Published on: December 29, 2014
Enriched environment effects on behavior, memory and BDNF in low and high exploratory mice
Vanessa Kazlauckas1, Natalia Pagnussat, Sabrina Mioranzza
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas/Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Departamento de Bioquímica, Porto Alegre/RS 90035-003, Brazil. vkghidini@gmail.com
Physiology & Behavior
|January 18, 2011
Summary
Environmental enrichment (EE) can modify exploratory behavior and memory in mice. Even mice with low exploratory tendencies showed improvements after EE, suggesting potential therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Animal Models
Background:
- Environmental enrichment (EE) is used to study brain plasticity and behavior.
- Individual behavioral differences and their response to EE within the same strain are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if EE in adulthood can alter exploratory behavior, memory, and hippocampal BDNF levels in mice with distinct exploratory traits.
- To compare the effects of EE on Low Exploratory (LE) and High Exploratory (HE) mice.
Main Methods:
- CF1 mice were categorized as LE or HE based on Open Field (OF) task performance.
- Mice underwent 2 months of either enriched or standard housing.
- Evaluated exploratory behavior (OF), memory (novel object recognition, inhibitory avoidance), and hippocampal BDNF levels.
Main Results:
- LE mice exhibited lower exploratory behavior, memory retention, and hippocampal BDNF levels compared to HE mice.
- EE significantly improved exploratory behavior, memory, and hippocampal BDNF in both LE and HE mice.
- EE-treated LE mice displayed behavioral profiles similar to standard-housed HE mice.
Conclusions:
- Adult EE can substantially modify ingrained behavioral patterns, even in mice with low exploratory tendencies.
- These findings suggest EE as a potential intervention for conditions characterized by internalized behaviors, possibly by modulating neuroplasticity.
