  Using analytical calculations, we characterize the rotational behavior of a
rigid spherical particle when subject to a net external torque in a continuous
viscoelastic environment. On long time scales, the embedding medium can either
feature a net terminal flow, like a fluid, or damped reversible dynamics, like
an elastic solid. The coupling of the sphere to its environment together with
the therein induced deformations and flows are taken into account explicitly.
In reality, using magnetically anisotropic particles, the torque can, for
instance, be applied via magnetic fields. We calculate corresponding response
functions. This connects our study to evaluations of microrheological
investigations.
