Environmental enrichment and gene-environment interactions in mouse models of brain disorders

Abstract

Environmental enrichment studies of transgenic and mutant mouse models of brain disorders have facilitated exploration of gene × environment interactions and experience-dependent plasticity in response to enhanced mental and physical activity. Environmental enrichment was first shown to have beneficial effects in a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease, followed by models of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, as well as various neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including Rett syndrome and schizophrenia. Research involving mouse models of these various brain disorders has generally shown that environmental enrichment ameliorates brain dysfunction a..