Brief periods of environmental enrichment facilitate adolescent development of gerbils

In a lifespan study, measures of motor behavior and somatic growth were recorded monthly from 31 male and 31 female gerbils. Each month, after measures were recorded, the gerbils were placed in a large, outdoor environment, or in a small indoor control cage for one hour. The enrichment experience for one hour a month had no effect on motor behavior between 2 and 7 months of age, but facilitated adolescent development. Area of the ventral gland increased more rapidly in gerbils given environmental enrichment. In male gerbils, the hindlimb was longer in those given environmental enrichment, but the opposite was true in female gerbils. More female gerbils had seizures than did male gerbils after 3 months of age, and enrichment had no significant effect on seizures in female gerbils. In male gerbils, however, more of the gerbils given enrichment experience had seizures from 2 to 4 months of age and fewer had seizures at 5 and 6 months of age than did controls.