Environmental Enrichment Attenuates Repetitive Behavior and Alters the Functional Connectivity of Pain and Sensory Pathways in C58 Mice.

ABSTRACT: Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRB) encompass a variety of inflexible behaviors, which are diagnostic for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite being requisite diagnostic criteria, the neurocircuitry of these behaviors remains poorly understood, limiting treatment development. Studies in translational animal models show environmental enrichment (EE) reduces the expression of RRB, although the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify functional connectivity alterations associated with RRB and its attenuation by EE in C58 mice, an animal model of RRB. Extensive differences were observed between C58 mice and C57BL/6 control mice. Higher RRB was associated with altered connectivity between the somatosensory network and ret

SUBMITTER: Farmer AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11640393 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature