Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Visceral Sensitivity and Brain Connectivity in a Mouse Model of Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions

Environmental Enrichment (EE) has been shown to reduce pain- and anxiety-like behaviors, enhance learning and memory, and induce neural plasticity. We have developed a mouse model of comorbid pain hypersensitivity (CPH: stress during preexisting orofacial pain, Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) induced masseter muscle inflammation) and examined the effects of EE on behavioral and brain connectivity changes induced by this model. Eighteen female mice underwent resting-state fMRI scans and were divided into 3 groups: 6 CPH + EE, 6 CPH only, and 6 naive mice.
Source: The Journal of Pain - Category: Materials Science Authors: Source Type: research