Abstract
The ways in which challenging environments during development shape the brain and behaviour are increasingly being addressed. To date, studies typically consider only single variables, but the real world ismore complex.Many factors simultaneously affect the brain and behaviour, and whether these work independently or interact remains untested. To address this, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were reared in a two-by-two design in housing that varied in structural complexity and/or exposure to a stressor. Fish experiencing both complexity (enrichment objects changed over time) and mild stress (daily net chasing) exhibited enhanced learning and were less anxious when tested as juveniles (between 77 and 90 days). Adults tested (aged 1 year) were also less anxious even though fish were kept in standard housing after three months of age (i.e. no chasing or enrichment).Volumetricmeasures of the brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that complexity alone generated fish with a larger brain, but this increase in size was not seen in fish that experienced both complexity and chasing, or chasing alone. The results highlight the importance of looking at multiple variables simultaneously, and reveal differential effects of complexity and stressful experiences during development of the brain and behaviour.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 20152564 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
| Volume | 283 |
| Issue number | 1823 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 27 2016 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Immunology and Microbiology(all)
- Environmental Science(all)
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
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The influence of complex and threatening environments in early life on brain size and behaviour. / Depasquale, Oonagh Cairistine; Neuberger, Thomas; Hirrlinger, A. M.; Braithwaite-Read, Victoria Ann.
In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Vol. 283, No. 1823, 20152564, 27.01.2016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of complex and threatening environments in early life on brain size and behaviour
AU - Depasquale, Oonagh Cairistine
AU - Neuberger, Thomas
AU - Hirrlinger, A. M.
AU - Braithwaite-Read, Victoria Ann
PY - 2016/1/27
Y1 - 2016/1/27
N2 - The ways in which challenging environments during development shape the brain and behaviour are increasingly being addressed. To date, studies typically consider only single variables, but the real world ismore complex.Many factors simultaneously affect the brain and behaviour, and whether these work independently or interact remains untested. To address this, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were reared in a two-by-two design in housing that varied in structural complexity and/or exposure to a stressor. Fish experiencing both complexity (enrichment objects changed over time) and mild stress (daily net chasing) exhibited enhanced learning and were less anxious when tested as juveniles (between 77 and 90 days). Adults tested (aged 1 year) were also less anxious even though fish were kept in standard housing after three months of age (i.e. no chasing or enrichment).Volumetricmeasures of the brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that complexity alone generated fish with a larger brain, but this increase in size was not seen in fish that experienced both complexity and chasing, or chasing alone. The results highlight the importance of looking at multiple variables simultaneously, and reveal differential effects of complexity and stressful experiences during development of the brain and behaviour.
AB - The ways in which challenging environments during development shape the brain and behaviour are increasingly being addressed. To date, studies typically consider only single variables, but the real world ismore complex.Many factors simultaneously affect the brain and behaviour, and whether these work independently or interact remains untested. To address this, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were reared in a two-by-two design in housing that varied in structural complexity and/or exposure to a stressor. Fish experiencing both complexity (enrichment objects changed over time) and mild stress (daily net chasing) exhibited enhanced learning and were less anxious when tested as juveniles (between 77 and 90 days). Adults tested (aged 1 year) were also less anxious even though fish were kept in standard housing after three months of age (i.e. no chasing or enrichment).Volumetricmeasures of the brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that complexity alone generated fish with a larger brain, but this increase in size was not seen in fish that experienced both complexity and chasing, or chasing alone. The results highlight the importance of looking at multiple variables simultaneously, and reveal differential effects of complexity and stressful experiences during development of the brain and behaviour.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84955602225&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84955602225&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1098/rspb.2015.2564
DO - 10.1098/rspb.2015.2564
M3 - Article
C2 - 26817780
AN - SCOPUS:84955602225
VL - 283
JO - Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
JF - Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
SN - 0962-8452
IS - 1823
M1 - 20152564
ER -