The impact of changeability of enriched environment on exploration in rats

Modlińska, Klaudia; Chrzanowska, Anna; Pisula, Wojciech

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2019.04.015

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Independently of the line, and in contrast to EI rats, EE rats also showed a tendency toward novelty aversion, a result that corroborates recent findings in Sprague–Dawley (Vazquez-Sanroman et al 2021 ). The reason for the lack of novelty preference in EE rats is unclear, but might be related to either the presence of novel objects in their home cage (Tanas et al 2015 ; Vazquez-Sanroman et al 2021 ) or to a faster habituation to novelty in EE animals (Modlinska et al 2019 ; Schrijver et al 2002 ; Zimmermann et al 2001 ). Interestingly, the loss of novelty preference in EE rats is in line with previous research showing that EE dramatically blunted responding and incentive motivation for visual novelty (Cain et al 2006 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early environmental enrichment and impoverishment differentially affect addiction-related behavioral traits, cocaine-taking, and dopamine D2/3 receptor signaling in a rat model of vulnerability to drug abuse

et al. 2021

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Rationale Risk factors for drug addiction include genetics, environment, and behavioral traits such as impulsivity and novelty preference (NP), which have been related to deficits in striatal dopamine (DA) D2/3-receptors (D2/3R) and heightened amphetamine (AMPH)-induced DA release. However, the influence of the early rearing environment on these behavioral and neurochemical variables is not clear. Objectives We investigated the influence of early rearing environment on striatal D2/3R availabilities and AMPH-induced DA release in relation to impulsivity, NP, and propensity to drug self-administration (SA) in “addiction-prone” Roman high- (RHA) and “addiction-resistant” Roman low-avoidance (RLA) rats. Methods Animals were reared post-weaning in either environmental enrichment (EE) or impoverishment (EI) and were assessed at adulthood for impulsivity, NP, and propensity to cocaine SA. EE and EI rats were also scanned using single-photon emission computed tomography to concurrently measure in vivo striatal D2/3R availability and AMPH-induced DA release. Results EE vs. EI was associated with heightened impulsivity and a lack of NP in both rat lines. Higher dorsal striatal D2/3R densities were found in RHA EE and higher AMPH-induced DA release in RLA EE. Both impulsivity and NP were negatively correlated to dorsal striatal D2/3R availabilities and positively correlated with AMPH-induced DA release in EI but not in EE. EE vs. EI was related to a faster rate of cocaine intake and elevated active timeout responses in RHAs. Conclusion Our results suggest non-monotonic, environment-dependent, relationships between impulsivity, NP, and D2/3R-mediated signaling, and suggest that EI vs. EE may decrease the reinforcing effects of psychostimulants in predisposed individuals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early environmental enrichment and impoverishment differentially affect addiction-related behavioral traits, cocaine-taking, and dopamine D2/3 receptor signaling in a rat model of vulnerability to drug abuse

et al. 2021

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“…The exploration test was conducted to assess the exploration of a new environment, the rate of habituation to it, and the response to the introduction of novelty of low intensity into a well-known context. The apparatus and measurement methods were similar to those used in our previous studies 1 , 12 – 17 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response to novelty induced by change in size and complexity of familiar objects in Lister-Hooded rats, a follow-up of 2019 study

Pisula

Modlińska

Chrzanowska

et al. 2021

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This study examines the relationship between the change in size and change in complexity of well-known/familiarized objects and exploratory activity regulation in rats. In our experiment, the rats were exposed to three types of environmental novelty in a well-familiarized chamber: (1) addition of new tunnels to the chamber, (2) increased size of a familiarized tunnel, and (3) increased complexity of the existing tunnels. The animals responded to the addition of new tunnels with a significant behavioural shift involving increased exploration of the newly installed tunnels. This effect was stable across all three test trials. The rats exposed to a change in size of the familiar object initially reacted with a behavioural shift towards the enlarged tunnel but then re-focused on the unchanged one. There was also a significant increase in the frequency of moving between the zones of the chamber. The experimental group exposed to an increased complexity of familiar objects responded with a pronounced behavioural shift towards the complex tunnel and then slightly intensified their exploration of the unchanged one. A decrease was also observed in the frequency of moving between the zones of the chamber in the first and second test trials. In the effect size analysis, no differences were found in any of the three groups, which suggests that all manipulations had similar impact. The data obtained in this study supports the view that in rats, curiosity is at least two-dimensional: activational and cognitive. The activational aspect of curiosity may be explained by novelty-related arousal processes, while the cognitive processes are activated at longer time intervals in response to more complex stimulation. The validation of this hypothesis requires further research involving manipulations with a recently standardized protocol for measuring free exploration.

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“…explore novelty [33]. A limitation of the basic environment is that calves were unable to perform the same variety of anticipatory behaviours as the enriched-housed calves, so the energy requirements to change between behaviours, or the value of performing the different behaviours, may be different between basic-and enriched-housed calves.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Anticipatory behaviour as an indicator of the welfare of dairy calves in different housing environments

2021

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Anticipatory behaviour occurs in the period before a reward or other positive event is presented and has been interpreted as an indicator of the welfare and emotional state of animals. The use of this indicator has received limited attention in dairy calves. Therefore, we investigated how anticipatory behaviour is affected by housing environment and reward quality, and if anticipatory behaviour changes when reward quality changes unexpectedly. Sixteen pairs of calves were assigned to treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial design (two housing environment and two reward quality combinations). Housing was either basic (2 m2/calf, river stone surface) or enriched (5 m2/calf, woodchip, and enrichment items), and the reward was access to either an additional basic or enriched pen. Calves were conditioned to anticipate reward pen access; anticipatory behaviour toward receiving the reward pen was measured. Signaling reward access increased the frequency of transitions between behaviours and duration of touching and looking at the signal and exit door. Basic-housed calves showed more anticipatory behaviour (increased frequency of transitions between behaviours) and decreased latency to access the reward compared to enriched-housed calves, but the reward pen quality had no effect on anticipatory behaviour. When the reward pen quality changed from enriched to basic unexpectedly, resulting in sudden reward loss, basic-housed calves decreased, while enriched-housed calves increased, anticipatory behaviour. However, there was no change in anticipatory behaviour during reward gain (change from basic to enriched reward pen). Our findings align with previous work showing that animals in basic housing show more anticipation for a reward, and demonstrate suppressed behavioural response when experiencing reward loss, suggesting greater sensitivity to reward. Sensitivity to reward has associations with mood state; thus, calves in basic environments may experience a more negative emotional state, and thus reduced welfare, compared to calves in enriched environments.

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The impact of changeability of enriched environment on exploration in rats

Cited by 16 publications

References 42 publications

Early environmental enrichment and impoverishment differentially affect addiction-related behavioral traits, cocaine-taking, and dopamine D2/3 receptor signaling in a rat model of vulnerability to drug abuse

Early environmental enrichment and impoverishment differentially affect addiction-related behavioral traits, cocaine-taking, and dopamine D2/3 receptor signaling in a rat model of vulnerability to drug abuse

Response to novelty induced by change in size and complexity of familiar objects in Lister-Hooded rats, a follow-up of 2019 study

Anticipatory behaviour as an indicator of the welfare of dairy calves in different housing environments

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