Environmental Enrichment

Is training zoo animals enriching?

Husbandry training of zoo animals (training) has been associated with many benefits, and indisputably is a valuable tool; training facilitates movement of animals within their environment, and participation in husbandry and medical procedures. Training has also been considered to be...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Animal Training, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Amphibian, Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Crocodile & Alligator, Frog & Toad, Gibbon, Lemur, Lizard, Macaque, Marine Mammal, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Reptile, Salamander, Snake, Squirrel Monkey, Turtle & Tortoise, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Melfi, V. 2013. Is training zoo animals enriching? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 147, 299-305.

An aquarium as a passive enrichment item and its effect on locomotor stereotypy in a group of singly housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Locomotor stereotypies are behaviors often seen in singly housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and are considered to represent a maladaptive response to captive environments. Social housing is the most effective means for decreasing abnormal behaviors but is sometimes unrealistic as...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Meade, T. M., Krall, C., Hutchinson, E. K. et al. 2013. An aquarium as a passive enrichment item and its effect on locomotor stereotypy in a group of singly housed rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 619 (Abstract #PS58).

Effects of housing condition and cage change on characteristics of sleep in mice

Although human subjects are widely used to study sleep and sleep disorders, animals have been invaluable in developing our understanding of the physiology of sleep and underlying mechanisms of sleep disorders. Environmental stimuli are likely to modify sleep in both...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Febinger, H.Y., George, A., Priestley, J. et al. 2014. Effects of housing condition and cage change on characteristics of sleep in mice. JAALAS 53(1), 29-37.

Untangling the influences of voluntary running, environmental complexity, social housing and stress on adult hippocampal neurogenesis

Environmental enrichment (EE) exerts powerful effects on brain physiology, and is widely used as an experimental and therapeutic tool. Typical EE paradigms are multifactorial, incorporating elements of physical exercise, environmental complexity, social interactions and stress, however the specific contributions of...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gregoire, C., Bonenfant, D., Le Nguyen, A. et al. 2014. Untangling the influences of voluntary running, environmental complexity, social housing and stress on adult hippocampal neurogenesis. PLOS ONE 9(1), e86237.

The effects of environmental enrichment on depressive and anxiety-relevant behaviors in socially isolated prairie voles

Social isolation is associated with depression, anxiety and negative health outcomes. Environmental enrichment, including environmental and cognitive stimulation with inanimate objects and opportunities for physical exercise, may be an effective strategy to include in treatment paradigms for affective disorders as...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Grippo, A. J., Ihm, E., Wardwell, J. et al. 2014. The effects of environmental enrichment on depressive and anxiety-relevant behaviors in socially isolated prairie voles. Psychosomatic Medicine 76(4), 277-284.

Tickling during adolescence alters fear-related and cognitive behaviors in rats after prolonged isolation

Social interactions during adolescence are important especially for neuronal development and behavior. We recently showed that positive emotions induced by repeated tickling could modulate fear-related behaviors and sympatho-adrenal stress responses. In the present study, we examined whether tickling during early...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal Interaction, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hori, M., Yamada, K., Ohnishi, J. et al. 2014. Tickling during adolescence alters fear-related and cognitive behaviors in rats after prolonged isolation. Physiology & Behavior 131, 62-67.

Enriched environment increases neurogenesis and improves social memory persistence in socially isolated adult mice

Social memory consists of the information necessary to identify and recognize cospecifics and is essential to many forms of social interaction. Social memory persistence is strongly modulated by the animal's experiences. We have shown in previous studies that social isolation...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Monteiro, B. M., Moreira, F. A., Massensini, A. R. et al. 2014. Enriched environment increases neurogenesis and improves social memory persistence in socially isolated adult mice. Hippocampus 24(2), 239-248.

Effects of a complex housing environment on heart rate and blood pressure of rats at rest and after stressful challenges

Housing enrichment for rodents continues to be a discussion topic within the animal care community. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which a complex housing environment affects heart rate, blood pressure, and activity of rats...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sharp, J., Azar, T., Lawson, D. 2014. Effects of a complex housing environment on heart rate and blood pressure of rats at rest and after stressful challenges. JAALAS 53(1), 52-60.

The use of the puzzle box as a means of assessing the efficacy of environmental enrichment

Environmental enrichment can dramatically influence the development and function of neural circuits. Further, enrichment has been shown to successfully delay the onset of symptoms in models of Huntington's disease, suggesting environmental factors can evoke a neuroprotective effect against the progressive,...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: O'Connor, A. M., Burton, T. J., Leamey, C. A. et al. 2014. The use of the puzzle box as a means of assessing the efficacy of environmental enrichment. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments) 94, e52225.

Environmental enrichment and social interaction improve cognitive function and decrease reactive oxidative species in normal adult mice

Environmental stimulation and increased social interactions stimulate cognitive performance, while decrease in these parameters can exacerbate cognitive decline as a function of illness, injury, or age. We examined the impact of environmental stimulation and social interactions on cognitive performance in...

Year Published: 2014Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Doulames, V., Lee, S., Shea, T. B. 2014. Environmental enrichment and social interaction improve cognitive function and decrease reactive oxidative species in normal adult mice. International Journal of Neuroscience 124(5), 369-376.