THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT IN MODULATING PLASTICITY PATHWAYS AND BEHAVIOR IN MODELS OF ISOLATION-INDUCED STRESS

In 2020, a new viral vector, SARS-CoV-2, emerged and quickly spread worldwide. In order to reduce the number of infections, social distancing measures were implemented. Schools, offices, pubs, and various other social gathering places were closed, leading to a decrease in social interactions. People had limited contact with their relatives and friends, and some were completely isolated. Reports have shown that social distancing and isolation have increased stress, anxiety, and depressive disorders. Evidence suggests that stress induced by isolation can affect plasticity pathways, leading to a decline in cognitive skills as observed in behavioral tests. Additionally, there has been an observed increase in anxiety and anhedonia-like behavior. Stress can be influenced by environmental factors, indicating that changes in the environment could play a crucial role in mitigating the negative effects of stress. Environmental enrichment (EE) in experimental procedures involves altering housing patterns to provide opportunities for animals to explore and interact with objects. It promotes stimulation of cognitive, memory, motor, and visual-related brain areas. In the context of humans, environmental enrichment refers to cognitive training, leisure activities, physical exercise, hobbies, and other engaging pursuits. Studies have shown the potential of enriched environments to reduce damage to the central nervous system in various models. Enrichment can modulate plasticity pathways in stress models, such as by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), enhancing long-term potentiation (LTP), and improving cognition. However, there are limited studies that investigate these potentials in models of isolation-induced stress.