Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 11, 2026
04:20
Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model
Published on: July 12, 2024
2.8K
Environmental Intervention as a Therapy for Adverse Programming by Ancestral Stress
J Keiko McCreary1, Zachary T Erickson1, YongXin Hao1
1Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Scientific Reports
|November 25, 2016
Summary
Ancestral stress programs future generations for heightened stress sensitivity. However, beneficial experiences like environmental enrichment in adolescence can reverse these adverse effects, offering therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Ancestral stress can negatively impact offspring health across generations.
- Identifying interventions to counteract transgenerational stress programming is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if beneficial experiences can alleviate transgenerational stress effects.
- To explore the underlying epigenetic and neurobiological mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Prenatal stress was induced in rats to establish a stressed lineage.
- Environmental enrichment (EE) was administered during adolescence to stressed and control groups.
- Endocrine markers, neuronal density, anxiety-like behaviors, and microRNA expression were assessed.
Main Results:
- Prenatal stress resulted in heritable endocrine and epigenetic changes, increased stress sensitivity, reduced glucocorticoid receptor, and lower prefrontal cortex neuronal density.
- Environmental enrichment mitigated these stress markers and normalized miR-182 expression.
- miR-182 was linked to the regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3).
Conclusions:
- Environmental enrichment can reverse adverse transgenerational programming of stress sensitivity.
- This reversal is mediated by microRNA-dependent regulation of BDNF and NT-3 pathways.
- These findings suggest novel therapeutic strategies for stress-related mental health disorders.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
584
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
584
01:22Behavior Therapy
873
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
873
01:28Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
399
Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
399
01:30Family Therapy
720
Family therapy conceptualizes psychological challenges as arising from dysfunctional interactions within the family unit, rather than as isolated issues within individuals. This approach seeks to address and transform the patterns of communication, roles, and relationships within families to promote healthier dynamics and emotional well-being for all members.
Strategic Family Therapy
Strategic family therapy emphasizes resolving communication barriers and improving problem-solving abilities...
Strategic Family Therapy
Strategic family therapy emphasizes resolving communication barriers and improving problem-solving abilities...
720
01:26Modeling in Therapy
643
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
643
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
740
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
740