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Environmental Enrichment Reverses the Effects of Maternal Separation on Stress Reactivity

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: Postnatal maternal separation increases hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) gene expression and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and behavioral responses to stress. We report here that environmental enrichment during the peripubertal period completely reverses the effects of maternal separation on both HPA and behavioral responses to stress, with no effect on CRF mRNA expression. We conclude that environmental enrichment leads to a functional reversal of the effects of maternal separation through compensation for, rather than reversal of, the neural effects of early life adversity.

Source: Journal of Neuroscience

DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.22-18-07840.2002

Authors: Darlene D. Francis, Josie Diorio, Paul M. Plotsky, Michael J. Meaney

Institutions: Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Emory University

Language: English

Topic: Stress Responses and Cortisol

Subfield: Behavioral Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health