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Environmental Enrichment Remodels Brain Structural and Behavioral Plasticity in Restricted and Repetitive C58 Mouse
Qiang Li1, Anna L Farmer2, Pearlson D Godfrey3,4,5
1Tri-Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|May 4, 2026
Summary
Environmental enrichment reduced restricted and repetitive behaviors in mice by altering brain structure and microstructural plasticity. These findings offer insights into potential environmental therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are hallmarks of neurodevelopmental disorders.
- The neural mechanisms underlying RRBs and the impact of environmental enrichment are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of environmental enrichment on brain structure and microstructure in C58 mice (a model of RRBs) compared to C57 control mice.
- To associate neuroanatomical changes with behavioral outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).
- Assessed regional brain volumes and microstructural properties (e.g., fractional anisotropy, fiber density).
- Correlated neuroanatomical findings with behavioral assessments of RRBs.
Main Results:
- C58 mice exhibited reduced total brain volume, with specific regions affected by environmental enrichment.
- Environmental enrichment induced significant microstructural plasticity (altered fractional anisotropy and fiber density) in both mouse strains.
- Observed reductions in RRBs were linked to these neuroanatomical changes, showing strain- and sex-dependent effects.
Conclusions:
- Environmental enrichment effectively remodels brain structure, microstructure, and behavior in a mouse model of RRBs.
- The study highlights the potential of environmental enrichment as a therapeutic strategy for neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Findings underscore the link between environmental factors, brain plasticity, and behavioral outcomes in neurological conditions.
