Influence of enriched environment on spatial learning following cerebral insult.
The fact that our brain is continuously shaped by the environment and experience presents many challenges. It was noted several decades ago that exposure of a laboratory rat to a complex environment alters its brain and improves problem solving in complex tasks. Rats that are housed in an enriched environment can better compensate for brain lesion-induced deficits and resist neurodegeneration. In this article, the role of an enriched environment on brain plasticity following experimentally-induced lesions is discussed.
Puurunen
Kirsi
K
Department of Neuroscience and Neurology, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. Kirsi.Puurunen@uku.fi
Sivenius
Juhani
J
D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*