In the perioperative sleep‑cognitive protection strategy, holistic biopsychosocial nursing has been ignored. Enriched environment (EE) based on psychosocial stimulation may have application value and cost‑effectiveness in improving sleep and cognitive function and promoting rapid surgical rehabilitation. In recent years, many reports have shown that EE plays a unique role in neurogenesis and brain plasticity. Starting with the action principle of EE stimulation theory, this review discusses the molecular biological mechanism of improving sleep cognitive dysfunction, especially about the regulation of neurogenesis and plasticity in hippocampus. In addition, we summarize the effect of EE on perioperative sleep and cognitive function, so as to provide a new strategy for perioperative sleep cognitive protection.