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Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model
Published on: July 12, 2024
Neurodevelopmental effects of early life stress: PFC and cognition
Lital Rachmany1, Fabiula Abreu1, Victoria Walker2
1Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Abstract:
Early life stress (ELS) exerts lasting effects on prefrontal cortex (PFC) development and function, contributing to cognitive and emotional vulnerabilities later in life. This review synthesizes findings from human studies and animal models showing that ELS disrupts PFC-dependent cognitive functions, including executive control, attention, working memory, and decision-making. We examine how ELS alters functional connectivity, neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin, GABA, and Dopamine, and hormonal signaling, particularly glucocorticoid regulation. Finally, we explore evidence for epigenetic mechanisms within the PFC that mediate the long-term impact of ELS on cognition and mental health.
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