Role Of Environmental Enrichment Research Articles

Environmental Enrichment and Health Outcomes Among Low-Grade Glioma Brain Tumor Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Brain tumor survivors who received radiotherapy (RT) are at a disproportionately increased risk of accelerated aging and symptom burden. We aim to examine the association between environmental enrichment (EE) and health outcomes among low-grade glioma survivors who received brain RT. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional cohort design, enrolling participants approximately 5 years from diagnosis. The construct of EE consisted of social network, physical activity, employment status, and financial stability. Berkman-Syme Social Network Index, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Vocational Index Scale, and a Socioeconomic Questionnaire were used to measure the construct of EE. Health outcome measures included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Symbol Digit Modality Test, clinical brain magnetic resonance images (pre-RT, approximately 2-3 years after RT, and approximately 5 years after RT), Karnofsky Performance Status Scale, and the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor Module. Ordinal logistic regression estimated the association between levels of EE and health outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-nine participants completed the study and experienced varying levels of EE. The median age was 44 years old, ranging from 26 to 78 years old. Nineteen individuals were diagnosed with oligodendroglioma, and 18 were diagnosed with astrocytoma. Thirteen participants had low EE, 17 had moderate EE, and 9 had high EE. Although not statistically significant, we observed patterns of increasing health outcomes (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Symbol Digit Modality Test, and Karnofsky Performance Status Scale) related to increasing levels of EE. CONCLUSION: This study is an initial exploration into the role of EE in health outcomes and survivorship programs for persons with glioma. Future research should assess EE before treatment or at the time of diagnosis and be longitudinal to accurately ascertain the association between EE and health outcomes. Comprehensive neuro-oncology survivorship programs structured to facilitate EE may reduce symptom burden, promote neuroplasticity, and improve cognitive and functional outcomes after brain radiation.

Sex-Specific Differences and the Role of Environmental Enrichment in the Expression of Hippocampal CB1 Receptors following Chronic Unpredictable Stress.

Stress-related mental disorders have become increasingly prevalent, thus endangering mental health worldwide. Exploring stress-associated brain alterations is vital for understanding the possible neurobiological mechanisms underlying these changes. Based on existing evidence, the brain endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) plays a significant role in the stress response, and disruptions in its function are associated with the neurobiology of various stress-related disorders. This study primarily focuses on investigating the impact of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) on the expression of hippocampal cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors, part of the ECS, in adult male and female Wistar rats. Additionally, it explores whether environmental enrichment (EE) initiated during adolescence could mitigate the CUS-associated alterations in CB1 expression. Wistar rats, shortly after weaning, were placed in either standard housing (SH) or EE conditions for a duration of 10 weeks. On postnatal day 66, specific subgroups of SH or EE animals underwent a 4-week CUS protocol. Western blot (WB) analysis was conducted in the whole hippocampus of the left brain hemisphere to assess total CB1 protein expression, while immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on the right hemisphere to estimate the expression of CB1 receptors in certain hippocampal areas (i.e., CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus-DG). The WB analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in total CB1 protein levels among the groups; however, reduced CB1 expression was found in specific hippocampal sub-regions using IHC. Specifically, CUS significantly decreased CB1 receptor expression in the CA1 and DG of both sexes, whereas in CA3 the CUS-associated decrease was limited to SH males. Interestingly, EE housing proved protective against these reductions. These findings suggest a region and sex-specific endocannabinoid response to chronic stress, emphasizing the role of positive early experiences in the protection of the adolescent brain against adverse conditions later in life.

Role of environmental enrichment on social interaction, anxiety, locomotion, and memory in Wistar rats under chronic methylphenidate intake.

Chronic use of various compounds can have long-lasting effects on animal behavior, and some of these effects can be influenced by the environment. Many environmental enrichment protocols have the potential to induce behavioral changes. The aim of the present study was to investigate how environmental enrichment can mitigate the effects of chronic methylphenidate consumption on the behavior of Wistar rats. The animals were housed for 20 days under either an environmental enrichment protocol (which included tubes of different shapes) or standard housing conditions. After seven days, half of the rats received 13 days of oral administration of methylphenidate (2 mg/kg). After seven days, the rats underwent behavioral tests, including the elevated plus maze (anxiety), open field (locomotion), object-in-place recognition test (spatial memory), and a test for social interaction (social behavior). The results showed that the enriched environmental condition reversed the enhanced time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze induced by methylphenidate (F[1,43] = 4.275, p = 0.045). Methylphenidate also enhanced exploratory rearing in the open field (F[1,43] = 4.663, p = 0.036) and the time spent in the open area of the open field (H[3] = 8.786, p = 0.032). The enriched environment mitigated the inhibition of social interaction with peers induced by methylphenidate (H[3] = 16.755, p < 0.001) as well as the preference for single exploratory behavior (H[3] = 9.041, p = 0.029). These findings suggest that environmental enrichment can counteract some of the effects of methylphenidate. These results are relevant for the clinical treatment of the long-lasting secondary effects associated with methylphenidate pharmacological treatment.

The Role of Environmental Enrichment and Back Fat Depth in the Intensity of Aggressive Behavior Performed by Sows during the Establishment of the Dominance Hierarchy.

For sows introduced into new groups, the aggressive behavior associated with establishing a social hierarchy represents a period of severe stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of providing sows with an improved pen environment (straw in racks and ropes) on aggressive behavior after mixing and to understand the role played by sow back fat thickness and parity order. At 29 d post-service, sows were mixed into IMPROVED or CONTROL pens with individual feeding stalls (6 groups/treatment, 20 sows/group). Aggressive behavior was recorded for 2 h at mixing (T0) and 24 h (T1) and 3 weeks post-mixing (T21). Overall, the sows in the CONTROL pens performed more fighting behavior compared to the IMPROVED sows (p < 0.001). This difference was significant only at T21 (p < 0.001). Additionally, the sows in the CONTROL pens generally initiated more aggressive behaviors than the sows in the IMPROVED pens (p = 0.02). The sows with a low back fat thickness initiated more aggressive behaviors, but parity had no significant effect on any of the aggressive behaviors. These results indicate a beneficial effect of improvements to the pen environment on the aggression performed by group-housed sows between the time of mixing and three weeks later. The effect was reduced on the day of mixing, which is in accordance with the necessity for sows to employ aggression to establish the dominance hierarchy.

Prolonged Environmental Enrichment Promotes Developmental Myelination.

Postnatal neurodevelopment is profoundly influenced by environmental experiences. Environmental enrichment is a commonly used experimental paradigm that has uncovered numerous examples of experience-dependent plasticity in health and disease. However, the role of environmental enrichment in normal development, especially glial development, is largely unexplored. Oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming glia in the central nervous system, provide metabolic support to axons and establish efficient saltatory conduction by producing myelin. Indeed, alterations in myelin are strongly correlated with sensory, cognitive, and motor function. The timing of developmental myelination is uniquely positioned to be influenced by environmental stimuli, as peak myelination occurs postnatally and continues into adulthood. To determine if developmental myelination is impacted by environmental experience, mice were housed in an enriched environment during peak myelination through early adulthood. Using translating ribosome affinity purification, oligodendrocyte-specific RNAs were isolated from subcortical white matter at various postnatal ages. RNA-sequencing revealed that differences in the oligodendrocyte translatome were predominantly evident after prolonged and continuous environmental enrichment. These translational changes corresponded with altered oligodendrocyte lineage cell dynamics and enhanced myelination. Furthermore, consistent with increased developmental myelination, enriched mice displayed enhanced motor coordination on a beam walking task. These findings indicate that protracted environmental stimulation is sufficient to modulate developmental myelination and to promote behavioral function.

Leg health of meat chickens: impact on welfare, consumer behaviour, and the role of environmental enrichment

The Australian and global chicken meat industries have benefited from rapid improvements in the efficiency of chicken meat production that have been predominantly achieved through genetic selection, optimisation of bird nutrition and improved bird health. However, this has also resulted in morphological changes in the bird with an increase in the prevalence of leg health disorders. Compromised leg health can cause pain and lameness and bodes poorly for bird wellbeing, bird mortality, and economic returns. There are also implications for the consumer who is increasingly mindful of animal welfare and is demanding more welfare friendly products. Accurate on-farm assessment of bird leg health has challenges due to the diversity of leg disorders and the variety of techniques used to assess their severity and impact. Overall prevalence of leg disorders shows great variability between properties (farms) and flocks. Opportunities to improve bird leg health have been the focus of considerable research which has frequently included an evaluation of environmental enrichment as a means to reduce lameness and improve bird mobility. To this end, currently in Australia, 78% of chicken meat is produced under the conditions of the Australian RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme, which requires perches in the birds’ environment. However, the value of perches in providing enrichment and improving bird welfare is unclear. Therefore, this review explores animal welfare and consumer attitudes towards meat chicken welfare, describes leg disorders, outlines techniques for assessing leg health and discusses opportunities to enrich the birds’ environment to improve bird mobility and leg health.

Role of environmental enrichment in locomotion, anxiety, memory and social interaction of Wistar rats under chronic treatment of methylphenidate

Role of environmental enrichment in locomotion, anxiety, memory and social interaction of Wistar rats under chronic treatment of methylphenidate

Understanding the Role of Environmental Enrichment in Zebrafish Neurobehavioral Models.

Environmental stimuli are critical in preclinical research that utilizes laboratory animals to model human brain disorders. The main goal of environmental enrichment (EE) is to provide laboratory animals with better choice of activity and greater control over social and spatial stressors. Thus, in addition to being a useful experimental tool, EE becomes an important strategy for increasing the validity and reproducibility of preclinical data. Although zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly becoming a promising new organism for neuroscience research, the role of EE in zebrafish central nervous system (CNS) models remains poorly understood. Here we discuss EE in preclinical studies using zebrafish and its influence on brain physiology and behavior. Improving our understanding of EE effects in this organism may enhance zebrafish data validity and reliability. Paralleling rodent EE data, mounting evidence suggests the growing importance of EE in zebrafish neurobehavioral models.

Evidence-based approaches to reducing in-patient stress — Part 3: How to reduce in-patient stress

ABSTRACT:Many in-patients have a negative experience of hospitalisation because, in addition to being unwell, they are in unfamiliar surroundings and cannot predict or control what happens to them. Their negative feelings (e.g. fear and frustration) are apparent from their behaviour, which can make clinical work more difficult. It also worries many owners and can have adverse effects on the animals' immunity and recovery. This article concludes a series of three that examine why hospitalisation is stressful and how that stress can be reduced. It reviews the role of environmental enrichment and describes some simple applications for the veterinary ward.

Aggression and dominance in cichlids in resident-intruder tests: the role of environmental enrichment

When establishing dominance residents have a greater likelihood to dominate intruders than vice versa, partially because the resident has more to loose that the intruder has to win. This is known as the prior residency effect. In environmentally rich environments this effect should be stronger than in poor environments. Recently Kadry &amp; Barreto (2010, Neotrop Ichthyol 8: 329-332) tested this in the pearl cichlid Geophagus brasiliensis (17 test pairs) and reported that environmental enrichment led to a reduction of aggression. We here present data on four other cichlids (332 test pairs) showing a stronger prior residency effect in enriched conditions, and, for two species, an increase in aggression. We discuss possible reasons for the differences between studies, focussing on the relationship between aggression and dominance and sample size effects.

Environmental Enrichment Induces Behavioral Recovery and Enhanced Hippocampal Cell Proliferation in an Antidepressant-Resistant Animal Model for PTSD

BackgroundPost traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be considered the result of a failure to recover after a traumatic experience. Here we studied possible protective and therapeutic aspects of environmental enrichment (with and without a running wheel) in Sprague Dawley rats exposed to an inescapable foot shock procedure (IFS).Methodology/Principal FindingsIFS induced long-lasting contextual and non-contextual anxiety, modeling some aspects of PTSD. Even 10 weeks after IFS the rats showed reduced locomotion in an open field. The antidepressants imipramine and escitalopram did not improve anxiogenic behavior following IFS. Also the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor sodium butyrate did not alleviate the IFS induced immobility. While environmental enrichment (EE) starting two weeks before IFS did not protect the animals from the behavioral effects of the shocks, exposure to EE either immediately after the shock or one week later induced complete recovery three weeks after IFS. In the next set of experiments a running wheel was added to the EE to enable voluntary exercise (EE/VE). This also led to reduced anxiety. Importantly, this behavioral recovery was not due to a loss of memory for the traumatic experience. The behavioral recovery correlated with an increase in cell proliferation in hippocampus, a decrease in the tissue levels of noradrenalin and increased turnover of 5-HT in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.Conclusions/SignificanceThis animal study shows the importance of (physical) exercise in the treatment of psychiatric diseases, including post-traumatic stress disorder and points out the possible role of EE in studying the mechanism of recovery from anxiety disorders.

Effects of social isolation and environmental enrichment on atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− mice

Social support and a stimulating environment have been suggested to reduce stress reactions and cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to assess the role of environmental enrichment and social interaction for development of atherosclerosis in atherosclerosis prone mice. Male ApoE− / − mice were divided into four groups and followed during 20 weeks: (i) enriched environment (E, n = 12), (ii) deprived environment (ED, n = 12), (iii) enriched environment with exercise (E-Ex, n = 12) and (iv) socially deprived by individual housing (SD, n = 10). Plasma lipid and cytokine concentrations were measured. Atherosclerosis was quantified in cross-sections of innominate artery and en face in thoracic aorta. Plaque area was significantly increased in SD mice in the innominate artery (P < 0.05 vs. all other groups), but not in the thoracic aorta. Plasma lipids were increased in SD mice (P < 0.001 vs. all for total cholesterol, P < 0.05 vs. E and P < 0.01 vs. ED for triglycerides). Plasma concentration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was decreased in SD mice compared to E mice (P < 0.05). Thus, social isolation increased atherosclerosis and plasma lipids in ApoE− / − mice. Reduction in plasma G-CSF levels may hamper endothelial regeneration in the atherosclerotic process. While environmental enrichment did not affect atherosclerosis, social isolation accelerated atherosclerosis.

Expanding Your Coverage of Neuroscience: An Interview with Michael Gazzaniga

Erin Rasmussen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Idaho State University where she teaches learning, behavioral pharmacology, senior seminar, and introductory psychology. She received her MS and PhD in experimental psychology (with a minor in behavioral pharmacology and toxicology) from Auburn University. She taught at the College of Charleston for 3 years before joining the faculty at Idaho State. Her past research involved examination of how prenatal exposure to heavy metals affects the behavior of offspring and the role of environmental enrichment in attenuating those effects. Currently, she is examining how prenatal food restriction affects food choices that lead to obesity. Michael Gazzaniga, the David T. McLaughlin Distinguished University Professor at Dartmouth College, is a pioneer in the field of cognitive neuroscience. He received his PhD from California Institute of Technology in psychobiology, where he conducted his famous work with Roger Sperry on the split-brain phenomenon. His research has provided insights on functional lateralization and how the cerebral hemispheres communicate with one another. He has written more than 20 books, many for the lay audience, and has well over 100 publications, including book chapters, interviews, and monographs. Currently, he serves as Director for the Center of Cognitive Neuroscience at Dartmouth. He was elected president of the American Psychological Society in 2004. He manages a summer school program in cognitive neuroscience and conducts many visiting professor seminars.

Problem of reptile play: Environmental enrichment and play behavior in a captive Nile soft-shelled turtle,Trionyx triunguis

Giving captive animals the opportunity to interact with objects in a “playful” manner is often considered a method of environmental enrichment. However, the occurrence of play in nonavian reptiles is controversial and poorly documented. Similarly, the role of environmental enrichment in fostering psychological well-being in reptiles has been little studied. For several years, an adult, long-term captive, Nile soft-shelled turtle, Trionyx triunguis, at the National Zoo (Washington, D.C.), was provided objects such as balls, sticks, and hoses in an attempt to reduce self-mutilation behavior. The turtle spent considerable time with the objects, and the level of self-mutilation behavior decreased greatly over many months. Video recordings made in various contexts were analyzed in detail, and an ethogram of this turtle's behavior was developed. The turtle interacted with the objects (e.g., basketball, hose, stick) for 20.7% of the time it was observed and was active for 67.7% of the time. Both figures are unusually high for any animal, especially a turtle. The relative lack of play in ectothermic reptiles is supported by the surplus resource theory of play, which considers the joint effects of parental care, metabolism, endothermy, and arousal in providing the context in which playfulness could be manifested and promoted in vertebrate evolution. The existence of vigorous playlike behavior in a member of an ancient reptilian lineage indicates that, in the right circumstances, object play can be performed by reptiles and that having the opportunity to do so may be beneficial in captivity. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.