Research article summary (published 5 Apr 2008):

Environmental enrichment mitigates the effects of basal forebrain lesions on cognitive flexibility.

Full Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether basal forebrain lesions were able to impair a task requiring cognitive flexibility abilities and analyzing the effect of the rearing in an enriched environment on such form of flexibility in rats with or without basal forebrain cholinergic lesions. In adult rats reared in enriched or standard conditions of the cholinergic projection to the neocortex damage was inflicted by 192 IgG-saporin injection into Ch4 region of basal forebrain. Their performance was compared with those of intact animals reared in analogous conditions in a four-choice serial learning task which taps flexibility in adapting to changing response rules. The results underlined the crucial role of the basal forebrain in mediating cognitive flexibility behaviors and revealed that the increase in social interactions, cognitive stimulation and physical activity of the rearing in enriched environment attenuated impairments caused by the cholinergic lesion. These findings demonstrate that rearing in an enriched environment can improve the ability to cope with brain damage suffered in adulthood.

Author information

Author/s: De Bartolo, P (P); Leggio, M G (MG); Mandolesi, L (L); Foti, F (F); Gelfo, F (F); Ferlazzo, F (F); Petrosini, L (L);

Affiliation: IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 304, Rome, Italy.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jun; vol 154 (issue 2) : pp 444-53

Dates: Created 2008/06/18; Completed 2008/08/29;

PMID: 18472349, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Antibodies, Monoclonal - toxicity Brain Chemistry - drug effects Choice Behavior - drug effects; physiology Choline O-Acetyltransferase - metabolism Cognition - drug effects; physiology Environment Immunotoxins - toxicity Male Motor Activity - drug effects; physiology

Motor Activity - drug effects; physiology Neuronal Plasticity - drug effects; physiology Prosencephalon - drug effects; metabolism; physiology Psychomotor Performance - drug effects; physiology Rats Rats, Wistar Reinforcement Schedule Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1 - toxicity Serial Learning - drug effects; physiology Social Behavior

Associated Chemicals: 192 IgG-saporin (0) ; Antibodies, Monoclonal (0) ; Immunotoxins (0) ; Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1 (0) ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6)

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