電動ボールによる環境エンリッチメントがラットの明暗箱試験による不安様行動に与える影響

抄録

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of environmental enrichment (EE) using a motorized ball. The ball automatically moved for 5 minutes each time rats touched it. A total of 36 rats were used, and they were divided into three groups: an active-ball group (active ball provided for 1 hour/day), an inactive-ball group (inactive ball provided for 1 hour/day), and a control group (no intervention). EE lasted for two weeks. We hypothesized that EE would reduce anxiety-like behavior. To assess anxiety levels, light/dark box tests were conducted at three time points: one day prior to the intervention (baseline), at the midpoint of the EE period, and last day following the EE period. The results indicated that while the time spent in the light compartment tended to increase in the motorized ball group, analysis of variance revealed no significant effect of EE. Nevertheless, within the motorized ball group, a positive correlation was observed between baseline time spent in the light compartment and the subsequent increase in that time following EE.