Enriched environment exposure during development positively impacts the structure and function of the visual cortex in mice.

ABSTRACT: Optimal conditions of development have been of interest for decades, since genetics alone cannot fully explain how an individual matures. In the present study, we used optical brain imaging to investigate whether a relatively simple enrichment can positively influence the development of the visual cortex of mice. The enrichment paradigm was composed of larger cages housing multiple mice that contained several toys, hiding places, nesting material and a spinning wheel that were moved or replaced at regular intervals. We compared C57BL/6N adult mice (> P60) that had been raised either in an enriched environment (EE; n = 16) or a standard (ST; n = 12) environment from 1 week before birth to adulthood, encompassing all cortical developmental stages. Here, we report significant beneficial chang

SUBMITTER: Bibollet-Bahena O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10148800 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature