Effects of juvenile situational experience on behavioral development of Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii): From cognition to psychology

Juvenile situational experiences that animals are exposed to different environmental conditions have the potential to shape the developmental trajectory of individuals, influencing their personality traits, anxiety level, cognition, and memory. However, empirical evidence regarding these effects remains limited. In this study on male Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) undergoing weaning process, we examined the consequences of juvenile situational experiences on their behavioral development, involving daily exploration of newly introduced objects with a diverse array of materials, shapes, sizes, and colors. The results showed that (1) the situational experience improved spatial cognition and memory, as evidenced by significantly higher scores in both the recognition index during test period (RIB) and the discrimination index during test period (DI) compared to the control group; (2) no significant differences were observed in autonomic activity between the two groups, including total distance traveled, resting time, mean speed, maximum speed, and duration of slow and fast movements across the entire arena; (3) situational experience reduced anxiety levels, indicated by increased exploration of the center area, more transitions between zones, shorter latency to enter the center zone, prolonged resting time in the center area, and greater total time spent and distance moved in the center area; and (4) the situational experience group exhibited significantly higher individual personality scores compared to the control group. In conclusion, our results imply that juvenile situational experience exerts significant positive effects on spatial cognition and memory, anxious behavior, and personality development in L. brandtii. These insights offer novel perspectives on the long-term impacts of juvenile situational experiences on adulthood, with potential applications in addressing mental health and behavioral anomalies. Additionally, our study provides practical implications for animal management and environmental enrichment strategies.