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Adolescent development, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function, and programming of adult learning and memory
Cheryl M McCormick1, Iva Z Mathews
1Department of Psychology and Centre for Neuroscience, Brock University, St Catharines ON, Canada. cmccormick@brocku.ca
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|September 29, 2009
Summary
Chronic stress impacts adult learning and memory via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Adolescence, a critical developmental period, may be more vulnerable to stress-induced, lasting cognitive changes than adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Chronic stress affects adult learning and memory through glucocorticoid hormones released by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
- Glucocorticoids impact synaptic function in brain regions critical for goal-directed behavior, learning, and memory in adults.
- Early-life exposure to glucocorticoids can cause long-lasting neurodevelopmental changes, unlike transient effects in adulthood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of chronic stress and glucocorticoids on learning and memory.
- To examine the unique vulnerability of the adolescent brain to glucocorticoid programming.
- To highlight emerging research on stress, adolescence, and enduring cognitive function.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on stress, glucocorticoids, and cognitive function.
- Analysis of rodent models investigating adolescent stress exposure.
- Comparison of stress effects during adolescence versus adulthood.
Main Results:
- Adolescence represents a critical window for HPA axis maturation and neurodevelopment.
- Exposure to high glucocorticoid levels during adolescence can lead to enduring changes in adult cognitive function.
- Adolescence may be a period of heightened vulnerability to stress-induced cognitive alterations compared to adulthood.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent exposure to glucocorticoids can have profound and lasting effects on learning and memory.
- The adolescent brain's ongoing development makes it particularly susceptible to programming by stress hormones.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for addressing cognitive impairments related to early-life stress.
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