Prenatal programming of postnatal plasticity revisited-And extended

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Genetics and Epigenetics

Background:

• Prenatal stress is linked to behavioral and physiological dysregulation.
• This dysregulation increases susceptibility to postnatal environmental influences, both positive and negative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence supporting the hypothesis that prenatal stress programs postnatal developmental plasticity.
• To explore the implications of this programming for child development and environmental sensitivity.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing evidence on prenatal stress and developmental outcomes.
• Inclusion of new experimental research manipulating prenatal stress and postnatal rearing environments.

Main Results:

• Evidence supports the proposition that prenatal stress enhances postnatal developmental plasticity.
• Prenatal stress may explain links between early adversity and later problematic development due to continued environmental challenges.
• Potential benefits of prenatal stress-induced plasticity in favorable postnatal environments are less understood.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal stress can program children to be more sensitive to environmental influences after birth.
• This heightened plasticity can lead to adverse outcomes in stressful postnatal environments but may offer advantages in supportive ones.
• Further research is needed on the mechanisms and moderators of prenatal programming effects on plasticity.