Traumatic life experiences during critical periods lead to diverse developmental trajectories

Traumatic events can disrupt neurodevelopment, increasing the risk for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the relationships between specific types of traumas and the emergence of particular neuropsychiatric traits remain elusive. Here, we examine the long-term consequences of different life-threatening events experienced during four distinct developmental periods in mice. Our findings at the behavioral and molecular/cellular levels in adulthood suggest a crucial role for timing (rather than type) of stress during development in shaping long-term outcomes. Our parallel analysis of individuals exposed to trauma at diverse life stages reveals similar results. Finally, our proteomic data suggest the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-pathway as a promising therapeutic target for ameliorating psychopathology related to trauma experienced specifically in early adulthood in mice and potentially in individuals. Our results point to the existence of critical periods for trauma exposure that uniquely influence adult behavioral outcomes and induce time-specific molecular/cellular patterns in the brain, which may have therapeutic implications.