title: The uterine environment enhances cognitive competence.
abstract: Genetically identical mouse embryos were transferred into same-strain uteri (transfer controls) or into hybrid uteri. A third group was not transferred. When adult, the mice were given a series of behavioral tests. In-strain transfer controls differed from non-transfer mice only on two activity measures, and did not differ on any cognitive variable. In contrast, mice reared in hybrid uteri were found to be superior to in-strain transfer mice on discrimination learning, Lashley maze learning and Morris maze learning; they also showed better adaptation in an avoidance learning shuttlebox. To our knowledge this is the first study showing that the uterine environment can have a general enhancing effect upon cognitive competence across a broad range of behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269-4154, USA.
authors.forename: V H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Denenberg
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hoplight
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Mobraaten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012399:Rotation; D013550:Swimming; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology*; D014998:Y Chromosome