Results

The interaction dynamics of foraging enrichments

The interaction dynamics differed significantly between different foraging enrichments (p<0.01). The enrichments with greater cognitive complexity and difficulty were interacted more by the mice.

In addition, C57BL/6 mice interacted significantly more than the Swiss Albino mice with all foraging enrichments (p<0.01).

Figure 1. The observed interaction frequency (mean ± standard error) with different foraging enrichments by mice from two strains, ordered according to the chronology of the experimental sequence.

Behavioural changes after the exposure to the foraging enrichments

  • Significant decrease in feeding, autogrooming and stereotypic gnawing behaviour in the home cage (p<0.05).
  • Significant increase in time spent moving in the arena in the open field test (p<0.01).
  • Significant increase in time spent in the central zone of the arena in the open field test (p<0.05).
Figure 2. The time spent moving (s) with mean ± standard error, before and after the implementation of foraging enrichments in two mouse strains during the open field test. The asterisk represents a statistically significant difference (p<0.05).
Figure 3. The time spent in the central zone (s) with mean ± standard error, before and after the implementation of foraging enrichments in two mouse strains during the open field test. The asterisk represents a statistically significant difference (p<0.05).
discussion