Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious health issue characterized by diagnostic and treatment challenges, a high likelihood of comorbid conditions, and significant rehabilitation difficulties. We believe that in the coming years, a comprehensive research effort aimed at addressing the large-scale PTSD epidemic triggered by global catastrophes should become a priority. Evidence that an enriched environment (EE) can mitigate PTSD-like behavior would provide a foundational premise for the pathogenetic rationale behind the potential therapeutic effects of EE in treating post-stress disorders.Objective.To study the influence of an enriched environment on working memory in rats using the novel object recognition test following exposure to combined chronic stress.Methods.The study was conducted on male rats (n=19). The animals were divided into three comparison groups, and short-term memory was assessed using the novel object recognition test.Results.Recovery in an enriched environment in animals subjected to simulated combined stress, compared to the control group housed in standard vivarium conditions, led to improved cognitive brain function, as evidenced by the novel object recognition test. The performance of the stressed group recovering in EE approached that of the intact reference group.Conclusions.The obtained results suggest that an enriched environment may be an effective tool for PTSD prevention, enhancing memory functions and improving the body's adaptive capabilities.Keywords:post-traumatic stress disorder, enriched environment, novel object recognition, rats, stress.