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Published on: December 4, 2013
Neonatal pain impairs spatial memory: Enrichment as a neuroprotective approach
Khawla Nuseir1, Amal Alachkar2, Sally Ababneh1
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Insights
An enriched environment (EE) can mitigate negative effects of neonatal pain on later learning and memory in Wistar rats. While EE reversed heightened pain sensitivity at 4 weeks, it had no effect at 8 weeks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Premature birth rates are increasing globally.
- Neonatal procedures, while life-saving, cause short- and long-term harm.
- Non-pharmacological pain management is ethically and clinically essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if an enriched environment (EE) can reduce harmful effects of neonatal pain.
- To explore EE's potential to mitigate adverse outcomes from painful neonatal procedures.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rats were exposed to painful neonatal procedures.
- One group received an enriched environment (EE).
- Cognitive function (learning and memory) and pain sensitivity were assessed at 4 and 8 weeks.
Main Results:
- EE mitigated the negative impact of painful procedures on later learning and memory.
- EE reversed heightened pain sensitivity at 4 weeks of age.
- EE did not significantly affect pain sensitivity at 8 weeks of age.
Conclusions:
- Enriched environment (EE) is a simple, cost-effective intervention.
- EE can significantly impact early-life distressful events.
- EE shows promise in mitigating long-term cognitive deficits from neonatal pain.
Abstract:
Prematurity is on the rise worldwide and the need for procedures done to premature and mature infants to enhance their survival is also rising. These procedures, despite being lifesaving, result in short- and long-term detrimental impacts. The need for non-pharmacological alleviation of these negative consequences is clinically and ethically necessary. Enriched environment (EE) is such a modality that had been explored but needs further study. This research was undertaken to explore the possibility for EE to mitigate some or all the harmful effects of neonatal pain. In this work, EE was shown to mitigate the effects of painful neonatal procedures on learning and memory later in life in Wistar rats. The effects of EE on pain sensitivity were mixed; at 4 weeks of age, EE reversed the heightened pain sensitivity, but at 8 weeks it had no effect. In conclusion, EE is an easy and inexpensive method that has a major effect on early-life distressful events.
