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Environmental Enrichment Enhances Cerebellar Compensation and Develops Cerebellar Reserve

Author

Listed:
  • Francesca Gelfo

    (Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Via Plinio 44, 00193 Rome, Italy
    IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy)

  • Laura Petrosini

    (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The brain is able to change its structure and function in response to environmental stimulations. Several human and animal studies have documented that enhanced stimulations provide individuals with strengthened brain structure and function that allow them to better cope with damage. In this framework, studies based on the exposure of animals to environmental enrichment (EE) have provided indications of the mechanisms involved in such a beneficial action. The cerebellum is a very plastic brain region that responds to every experience with deep structural and functional rearrangement. The present review specifically aims to collect and synthesize the evidence provided by animal models on EE exposure effects on cerebellar structure and function by considering the studies on healthy subjects and on animals exposed to EE both before and after damage involving cerebellar functionality. On the whole, the evidence supports the role of EE in enhancing cerebellar compensation and developing cerebellar reserve. However, since studies addressing this issue are still scarce, large areas of inconsistency and lack of clarity remain. Further studies are required to provide suggestions on possible mechanisms of enhancement of compensatory responses in human patients following cerebellar damage.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Gelfo & Laura Petrosini, 2022. "Environmental Enrichment Enhances Cerebellar Compensation and Develops Cerebellar Reserve," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5697-:d:810455
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michal Nissim & Abigail Livny & Caroline Barmatz & Galia Tsarfaty & Yitshal Berner & Yaron Sacher & Raffaella Bodini & Navah Z. Ratzon, 2021. "Effects of Ai-Chi Practice on Balance and Left Cerebellar Activation during High Working Memory Load Task in Older People: A Controlled Pilot Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Sara Pudas & Michael Rönnlund & Angela Gutchess, 2019. "School Performance and Educational Attainment as Early-Life Predictors of Age-Related Memory Decline: Protective Influences in Later-Born Cohorts," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 74(8), pages 1356-1365.
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    Cited by:

    1. Laura Serra & Laura Petrosini & Laura Mandolesi & Sabrina Bonarota & Francesca Balsamo & Marco Bozzali & Carlo Caltagirone & Francesca Gelfo, 2022. "Walking, Running, Swimming: An Analysis of the Effects of Land and Water Aerobic Exercises on Cognitive Functions and Neural Substrates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-21, December.

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