Physiological And Behavioral Effects Of Early Life Stress...

TITLE Meaghan Ferguson Columbia University The physiological and behavioral effects of early life stress (ELS) on the developing and adult brain are a subject of great interest in the field of neuroscience today. The ability to delineate the mechanisms and structures that are affected during postnatal exposure to chronic stress has the potential to provide invaluable insight into the development of a multitude of neuropsychiatric disorders. While we have come to understand a few of the mechanisms involved in many of these illnesses – such as the significance of the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) neurotransmitter in many depression cases – the complex nature of these disorders and our ability to effectively treat them remains elusive. Such an understanding of how the brain adapts and differentially develops as a result of chronic stress, particularly in early life, may also be able to broaden our understanding of the way in which the brain codes and responds to a variety of emotional triggers. Due to i ts bi-directional connections to limbic structures, as well as the large number of glucocorticoid receptors present within its pyramidal cells, the hippocampus (HC) is the main region of interest when considering stress genotype and phenotype. An enormous variety of proteins expressed within this highly significant structure have been the focus of modern research activities – including various cytokines, cell adhesion moleculesShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Traumatic Events On Infants And Young Children1320 Words   |  6 Pageschildren has been passed over when in reality early childhood is the stage when a child is most vulnerable to the effects of trauma (Perry et. al., 1995). 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