Logo image
Back
Neonatal pain impairs spatial memory: Enrichment as a neuroprotective approach
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Neonatal pain impairs spatial memory: Enrichment as a neuroprotective approach

Khawla Nuseir, Amal Alachkar, Sally Ababneh, Ahmad Adnan Altarifi, Karem Alzoubi and Omar Khabour
Pediatrics and neonatology
20 Mar 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2025.11.014
PMID: 41974601
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2025.11.014View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open CC BY-NC-ND V4.0

Abstract

Learning Memory Nociception Rats Standard environment
Prematurity is on the rise worldwide and the need for procedures done to premature and mature infants to enhance their survival is also rising. These procedures, despite being lifesaving, result in short- and long-term detrimental impacts. The need for non-pharmacological alleviation of these negative consequences is clinically and ethically necessary. Enriched environment (EE) is such a modality that had been explored but needs further study. This research was undertaken to explore the possibility for EE to mitigate some or all the harmful effects of neonatal pain. In this work, EE was shown to mitigate the effects of painful neonatal procedures on learning and memory later in life in Wistar rats. The effects of EE on pain sensitivity were mixed; at 4 weeks of age, EE reversed the heightened pain sensitivity, but at 8 weeks it had no effect. In conclusion, EE is an easy and inexpensive method that has a major effect on early-life distressful events. • Neonatal pain resulted in deficits in spatial learning and memory. • Post-weaning environmental enrichment reversed neonatal pain-induced deficits in spatial learning and memory. • Post-weaning environmental enrichment reversal of pain sensitivity at adolescence did not last until adulthood.

Metrics

1 Record Views

Details

Logo image