Date of Award
5-20-2012
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Anthony Rauhut
Language
English
Abstract
Two experiments examined the role of limited environmental enrichment on behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine in Swiss-Webster mice. Researchers hypothesized that limited environmental enrichment would slow the rate of sensitization for enriched mice. In Experiment 1, mice (enriched) were exposed to enrichment chambers (6 hours/day x 15 days) or remained in their home cages (non-enriched controls) (Enrichment phase). Mice were then injected with methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) once a week for 4 weeks (Sensitization phase). In Experiment 2, mice were exposed either to limited environmental enrichment (6 hours/day x 15 days or 6 hours/day x 5 days) or remained in their home cages (non-enriched controls) during the Enrichment phase followed by methamphetamine sensitization. The results of both experiments indicated that enriched mice, regardless of the amount of environmental enrichment, demonstrated a slower rate of sensitization compared to the non-enriched mice, suggesting that limited environmental enrichment blunted the behavioral effects of methamphetamine.
Recommended Citation
Nguyen, Maia Thi, "Limited Environmental Enrichment Blunts Methamphetamine Sensitization in Young Mice" (2012). Dickinson College Honors Theses. Paper 42.
https://scholar.dickinson.edu/student_honors/42