Evoked cortical potential correlates of rearing environment in rats

Evoked cortical potentials were recorded from rats reared in either a complex sensory environment or in isolation. Potentials from enriched animals showed a decrease in amplitude with repeated somatic stimuli, whereas those from isolated animals did not. One hour after this experiment both groups showed similar decreases in potential amplitude with repeated stimulus. The results are interpreted as an habituation process whose development is influenced by early environment.