Housing supplementation decreases the magnitude of inflammation-induced nociception in rats.

Previous reports have demonstrated that pain is influenced by environmental factors. This investigation examined the effects of housing supplementation, via the inclusion of objects to the home cage environment, on inflammation-induced nociceptive behaviors. The degree of thermal hyperalgesia was significantly lower in rats housed in a supplemented home cage environment, as compared to rats housed in basic cages. These data indicate that environmental enrichment significantly affects nociceptive responses.