Autism Therapy: tunnels

An enriched environment may help young children to overcome some of the symptoms of autism.

Scientists have created a mouse model of Rett syndrome (a genetic form of autism). This mouse study looked to see if mice with Rett syndrome/autism are helped by being in fancy large cages with shavings, tunnels, climbing ladders, and a running wheel, all of which were changed weekly (enriched environment). The authors found that the fancy cages improved behavior and brain structure in normal mice and mice with autism. The brains of mice in the fancy cages were larger and had more neuronal connections and more brain growth factors when compared to the brains of mice in the normal cages. The mice in the fancy cages also moved more than the mice in the plain cages.