Cited by 1,771Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Enriched environments, experience-dependent plasticity and disorders of the nervous system

Nithianantharajah, Jess, Hannan, Anthony J.·2006·Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Abstract

Behavioural, cellular and molecular studies have revealed significant effects of enriched environments on rodents and other species, and provided new insights into mechanisms of experience-dependent plasticity, including adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. The demonstration that the onset and progression of Huntington's disease in transgenic mice is delayed by environmental enrichment has emphasized the importance of understanding both genetic and environmental factors in nervous system disorders, including those with Mendelian inheritance patterns. A range of rodent models of other brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, fragile X and Down syndrome, as well as various forms of brain injury, have now been compared under enriched and standard housing conditions. Here, we review these findings on the environmental modulators of pathogenesis and gene-environment interactions in CNS disorders, and discuss their therapeutic implications.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrn1970

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  • Studies in animal models report an increase in brain BDNF levels when aged animals are submitted to protocols such as long-term environmental enrichment or physical activity.

    “Studies in animal models report an increase in brain BDNF levels when aged animals are submitted to protocols such as long-term environmental enrichment [47–49] or physical activity [50, 51].”

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Authors
Nithianantharajah, J., & Hannan, A. J.
Affiliations
The University of Melbourne (AU)
Corresponding author
Hannan, Anthony J.
Venue
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Published
2006-09
Volume
7
Issue
9
Pages
697-709
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
OpenAlex
W2054282296
Cited by
1,771
References
180
Citations by year
2026: 61 · 2025: 74 · 2024: 78 · 2023: 89 · 2022: 109 · 2021: 113 · 2020: 113 · 2019: 106 · 2018: 125 · 2017: 82 · 2016: 95 · 2015: 101 · 2014: 95 · 2013: 88 · 2012: 95
FWCI
3.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Health and Medical Research Council
  • National Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
environmental enrichment, experience-dependent plasticity, neuroplasticity, adult neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, brain injury, gene-environment interaction, central nervous system disorders, treatment options, rodent models
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Survival, Disease Models, Animal, Environment Design, Humans, Nervous System Malformations, Neuronal Plasticity, Rodentia, Sensory Deprivation, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Recovery of Function

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