An enriched environment increases noradrenaline concentration in the mouse brain

Exposure to an enriched environment has been shown to have many positive effects on brain structure and function. In the present study, we examined the effects of environmental enrichment on monoaminergic neurons in the mouse brain. After being exposed to an enriched environment for 40 days, noradrenaline content was increased significantly in the parieto-tentporo-occipital cortex, the cerebellum and the pons/medulla oblongata. In contrast, no changes were observed in serotonin or dopamine levels in these same regions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.