The Effects Aind Molecular Mechanisms Of Adult Tactile Enrichment On Anxiety-related Behavior And Memory In Mice

Environmental enrichment improves mood and cognition by increasing various inputs,including sensory,motor and social inputs.However,the role of a single factor,especially tactile input,in the effects of environmental enrichment is still unclear.In this study,we established a mouse model of adult tactile enrichment by suspending a row of bead curtains and providing nesting materials in the home cage,and investigated the impact of such intervention on behavior and its cellular basis.The results showed that such intervention effectively increased tactile inputs,without changing locomotor activity and exploratory behavior.Based on this model,we further explored the effects of tactile enrichment on anxiety-related behavior and memory and the underlying molecular mechanisms.The results showed that repeated tactile enrichment reduced anxiety-related behavior and improved memory performance,and these effects were time-dependent.In addition,these effects did not depend on stress-and neurogenesis-related molecules.In summary,our study established a novel and effective model of adult tactile enrichment and showed that tactile enrichment could reduce anxiety-related behavior and improve memory in mice.The effects of tactile enrichment are time-dependent and not mediated by stress-and neurogenesis-related molecules.