Environmental enrichment in laboratory rodents: Animal welfare and the methods of science (1999)

Galef Jr., B. G.

Abstract

Examined types of and goals for the environmental enrichment of laboratory rodents. Studies concerning environmental complexity, social housing, and increases in cage size suggest that professional judgments are not a reliable basis for evaluating the outcomes of enrichment programs. Successful enrichment programs are likely to vary between rodent species, sexes, and age classes. There is a need for objective, measurable goals for proposed environmental enrichment programs for rodents, as well as for empirical investigations of the beneficial and detrimental consequences of proposed environmental manipulations