Article
Immunology
Natalia Duque-Wilckens, Robert Teis, Erika Sarno, Frauke Stoelting, Sonia Khalid, Zakaria Dairi, Alex Douma, Nidia Maradiaga, Stina Hench, Christine D. Dharshika, Kyan M. Thelen, Brian Gulbransen, A. J. Robison, Adam J. Moeser
Summary: Exposure to early life adversity increases the risk of developing psychiatric and inflammatory disorders later in life. The mechanisms behind this are not fully understood, but it is hypothesized that persistent low grade inflammation and the crosstalk between stress-processing brain networks and the immune system play a role. The meninges, which surround the central nervous system, have unique features that allow them to coordinate immune trafficking between the brain and the peripheral immune system. A mouse model study found that early life adversity affects gene expression and mast cell histology in the meninges, and this effect is further pronounced when combined with adult stress. These findings suggest that early life adversity induces long-term changes in the meningeal immune system and heightens sensitivity to adult stress-induced responses.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Monique Robinson, Kim W. Carter, Craig E. Pennell, Peter Jacoby, Hannah C. Moore, Stephen R. Zubrick, David Burgner
Summary: The study found that increased exposure to stressful life events during pregnancy is associated with sex-specific infection-related hospitalizations in male offspring, but there is little evidence of these associations in female offspring.
Article
Neuroimaging
Xiao Wang, Wei Liao, Shaoqiang Han, Jiao Li, Yifeng Wang, Yan Zhang, Jingping Zhao, Huafu Chen
Summary: Adolescent-onset schizophrenia (AOS) patients show frequency-specific changes in the global signal (GS) affecting the default mode network and sensory regions, with a stronger driving effect in the 0.01-0.1 Hz frequency band, and significant frequency-by-group interaction observed in the frontoparietal network.
BRAIN IMAGING AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Kelsea R. Gildawie, Lilly M. Ryll, Jessica C. Hexter, Shayna Peterzell, Alissa A. Valentine, Heather C. Brenhouse
Summary: Research suggests that early adversity has long-term effects on neural and behavioral functions, with repeated adverse experiences more likely to lead to PFC-mediated behavioral deficits in women. Studies on rats have found that females exposed to adversity are more likely to exhibit hyperactivity and risk-assessment behavior, along with a decrease in the number of PV cells in the PFC and reduced structural integrity of PNNs.
DEVELOPMENTAL COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Nathalie E. Holz, Oksana Berhe, Seda Sacu, Emanuel Schwarz, Jonas Tesarz, Christine M. Heim, Heike Tost
Summary: Early adverse environmental exposures have a wide-ranging impact on mental and physical health, increasing the risk of severe mental disorders and stress-related illnesses while reducing life expectancy. Such exposures can alter developmental plasticity and disrupt the functional interaction of neural networks. This review explores the potential of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-based functional connectivity phenotypes as biomarkers for the consequences of early environmental exposures.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bhanu Sharma, Cameron Nowikow, Carol DeMatteo, Michael D. Noseworthy, Brian W. Timmons
Summary: Pediatric concussion can lead to long-term symptoms, and rs-fMRI disturbances are common in these patients. A secondary data analysis revealed sex differences in rs-fMRI connectivity, with more widespread abnormalities in females compared to males. This suggests that recovery timelines in pediatric concussion may vary by sex.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Madison M. Garvin, Jessica L. Bolton
Summary: Early-life adversity has significant effects on brain circuit maturation and vulnerability to cognitive and emotional disorders. The importance of considering sex as a biological variable in studying the effects of early-life adversity has only recently been recognized. This article discusses the sex-specific behavioral outcomes of early-life adversity in both humans and animal models and proposes microglia-mediated mechanisms as a potential underlying cause. Research in rodent models suggests that early-life adversity primarily affects males, leading to cognitive deficits, anhedonia, and alcohol abuse, while females exhibit different behavioral outcomes such as risk-taking and opioid addiction-related behaviors. Microglia have been identified as a key player in the effects of early-life adversity, with sex differences in synaptic rewiring and neural circuit development contributing to the divergent outcomes observed in males and females.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Huan Wang, Judith M. C. Leeuwen, Lycia D. Voogd, Robbert-Jan Verkes, Benno Roozendaal, Guillen Fernandez, Erno J. Hermans
Summary: Our study found that in a healthy sample, the effects of mild early-life stress on corticolimbic circuits only become apparent when exposed to an acute stressor, and may be buffered by adaptations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function. These findings might reveal a potential mechanism whereby even mild early-life stress could confer vulnerability to exposure to stressors later in adulthood.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Felicia A. A. Hardi, Leigh G. G. Goetschius, Vonnie McLoyd, Nestor L. L. Lopez-Duran, Colter Mitchell, Luke W. W. Hyde, Adriene M. M. Beltz, Christopher S. S. Monk
Summary: This study used a subgrouping algorithm to predict susceptibility to adversity and the development of anxiety and depression based on individuals' functional network profiles. The results showed that variations and density in the functional networks, as well as specific brain region connections, were related to the development of symptoms. Moreover, individuals in different subgroups exhibited different levels of anxiety when facing economic adversity.
JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Anouschka S. Ramsteijn, Rikst Nynke Verkaik-Schakel, Danielle J. Houwing, Torsten Plosch, Jocelien D. A. Olivier
Summary: This study reveals the sex-specific effects of perinatal fluoxetine exposure on brain development in juvenile rats. Males show stronger behavioral outcomes and differential gene expression in the prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala. Epigenetic regulation may underlie these developmental changes.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Michael R. MacArthur, Sarah J. Mitchell, Katia S. Chadaideh, J. Humberto Trevino-Villarreal, Jonathan Jung, Krystle C. Kalafut, Justin S. Reynolds, Charlotte G. Mann, Kaspar M. Trocha, Ming Tao, Tay-Zar Aye, Anantawat Koontanatechanon, Vladimir Yeliseyev, Lynn Bry, Alban Longchamp, C. Keith Ozaki, Caroline A. Lewis, Rachel N. Carmody, James R. Mitchell
Summary: Dietary protein restriction has rapid effects on metabolism, improving glucose and lipid homeostasis. This study found that protein restriction altered fecal microbial composition, but the metabolic effects were not transferable through fecal transplantation. Hepatic transcriptome and metabolome were significantly altered in diets with lower protein content, with specific changes in amino acid metabolism.
Article
Immunology
Sabrina Salberg, Glenn R. Yamakawa, Jaimie K. Beveridge, Melanie Noel, Richelle Mychasiuk
Summary: Given the significance of adolescence in brain development, early life factors can have long-term effects. Adversities such as a high-fat high-sugar diet and adverse childhood experiences can influence pain outcomes by affecting the neuroimmune system. Chronic pain is prevalent among adolescents, with sexual dimorphism in its manifestation. This study examines the effects of sex, diet, and childhood experiences on chronic pain outcomes during adolescence and reveals the mechanisms driving these changes.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Zhihai Huang, Yulan Zhang, Xiaohui Ma, Yu Feng, Xuemei Zong, J. Dedrick Jordan, Quanguang Zhang
Summary: Adverse experiences in early life have been linked to poor physical and mental health outcomes, including cognitive dysfunction and depressive-like symptoms in adulthood. The molecular mechanisms responsible for these negative consequences are unclear. Anticipatory guidance is currently the main approach for preventing early life adversity, as there is no available treatment to prevent or alleviate the neurological sequelae. This study aims to investigate the mechanisms behind these associations and evaluate the potential of photobiomodulation (PBM) as a preventive therapy for the cognitive and behavioral manifestations of early life adversity.
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Theresa W. Cheng, Kathryn L. Mills, Oscar Miranda Dominguez, Dagmar Zeithamova, Anders Perrone, Darrick Sturgeon, Sarah W. Feldstein Ewing, Philip A. Fisher, Jennifer H. Pfeifer, Damien A. Fair, Kristen L. Mackiewicz Seghete
Summary: Characterizing typologies of childhood adversity and their neurobiological grounding may provide insights into how different histories of adversity influence adolescent behavior, cognition, and psychopathology through altered amygdala resting-state functional connectivity. Unique regions of altered connectivity were identified in both general and dimensional models, indicating potential pathways by which distinct adversities impact neural function in adolescents.
DEVELOPMENTAL COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Mireia Masias Bruns, Juan Pablo Ramirez-Mahaluf, Isabel Valli, Maria Ortuno, Daniel Ilzarbe, Elena de la Serna, Olga Puig Navarro, Nicolas A. Crossley, Miguel Angel Gonzalez Ballester, Inmaculada Baeza, Gemma Piella, Josefina Castro-Fornieles, Gisela Sugranyes
Summary: The study aimed to investigate whether patients with first episode, adolescent-onset psychosis (AOP) exhibit dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) alterations similar to those seen in adult-onset and chronic psychosis patients. The results showed that AOP patients had similar dFC alterations to adult-onset and chronic psychosis patients, indicating that these abnormalities are not influenced by chronicity or prolonged antipsychotic treatment exposure. This study provides insight into the neurodevelopmental changes in brain functional connections during adolescence and suggests the potential for using dFC measures as biomarkers for characterizing adolescent-onset psychosis.
SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ju Qiao, Christopher M. Lawson, Kilian F. G. Rentrup, Praveen Kulkarni, Craig F. Ferris
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Lauren Granata, Alissa Valentine, Jason L. Hirsch, Jennifer Honeycutt, Heather Brenhouse
Summary: Research shows that different types of early life adversity can have differential effects on caretaker relationships and later cognitive/social development; rodent models like maternal separation and limited bedding can influence mother-infant relationships during critical developmental periods. These models may impact the development of communication strategies in pups, presenting potential implications for neurobehavioral development.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Kelsea R. Gildawie, Lilly M. Ryll, Jessica C. Hexter, Shayna Peterzell, Alissa A. Valentine, Heather C. Brenhouse
Summary: Research suggests that early adversity has long-term effects on neural and behavioral functions, with repeated adverse experiences more likely to lead to PFC-mediated behavioral deficits in women. Studies on rats have found that females exposed to adversity are more likely to exhibit hyperactivity and risk-assessment behavior, along with a decrease in the number of PV cells in the PFC and reduced structural integrity of PNNs.
DEVELOPMENTAL COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Virology
Rita T. Patel, Brennan M. Gallamoza, Praveen Kulkarni, Morgan L. Sherer, Nicole A. Haas, Elise Lemanski, Ibrahim Malik, Khan Hekmatyar, Mark S. Parcells, Jaclyn M. Schwarz
Summary: A rat model of maternal Zika virus infection with MRI imaging was used to study the long-term neurological consequences of prenatal Zika virus infection. The study found altered brain development in Zika virus-infected rats and suggested that maternal immune activation may play a role in altered brain growth. The introduction of manual and automated atlas-based segmentation for neonatal and juvenile rat brains is effective in detecting significant changes in neurodevelopment.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Seneca N. Ellis, Jennifer A. Honeycutt
Summary: Early life adversity (ELA) significantly impacts brain and behavioral development, leading to increased risk of anxiety and depression, especially in females. Studies in rodents suggest sex-specific emergence of anxious and depressive behaviors following ELA, highlighting the importance of evaluating sex as a biological variable in models of affective dysfunction. Recent evidence indicates that the calcium-binding protein Parvalbumin (PV) may play a role in the sex-specific outcomes of ELA, influencing behavioral responses associated with affective dysfunction.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Lauren E. Granata, Alissa Valentine, Jason L. Hirsch, Heather C. Brenhouse
Summary: Early life adversity increases the risk of psychopathologies during adolescence, affecting brain development and social behavior. In a rat experiment, it was found that infant social communication predicts brain development and adolescent social behavior, providing clues for studying the relationship between early factors and vulnerability.
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Nathaniel S. Rieger, Juan A. Varela, Alexandra J. Ng, Lauren Granata, Anthony Djerdjaj, Heather C. Brenhouse, John P. Christianson
Summary: This study investigated the effects of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) on the insular cortex and found that CRF increased social investigation and social interaction with stressed conspecifics in male rats. The results also revealed that CRF signaling in the insular cortex requires the presence of CRF1 and CB1 receptors. Additionally, there were sex differences in the expression of CRF1 and CB1 receptors in the insular cortex of rats.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Heather C. Brenhouse
Summary: Lifelong maladaptive behavior or illness often originates from early physiological aberrations, especially in cases of early life adversity. Exposure to adversity can lead to atypical sensitivity and responsivity to threats, which may be adaptive in preparing individuals for lifelong danger. However, it can also result in difficulties with emotion regulation and social relationships. Understanding the early development of physiological and immune systems is crucial for preventing and managing maladaptive threat sensitivity.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Lauren Granata, Ayalah Gluck, Abigail Parakoyi, Heather Brenhouse
Summary: Rodent models of early life adversity show that maternal separation can lead to increased maternal care behaviors in dams, but this care is more unpredictable and fragmented compared to control dams, highlighting a novel finding in this study.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Lauren Granata, Kelsea R. Gildawie, Nafissa Ismail, Heather C. Brenhouse, Ashley M. Kopec
Summary: Adolescence is a critical period for neural and behavioral development, and immune signaling plays a key role in integrating changes during this period. Interaction between immune signaling and neural, hypothalamic-pituitary, and microbiome systems is crucial for typical and atypical development.
DEVELOPMENTAL COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Lauren Granata, Abigail Parakoyi, Heather C. Brenhouse
Summary: Early life adversity increases the incidence of later-life anxiety disorders, with individual variations in threat processing potentially influenced by childhood experiences.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Elizabeth A. Shirtcliff, Daniela Jezova, Blazej Misiak, Urs Nater, Heather Brenhouse
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Imaging Science & Photographic Technology
Christian Stokes, Eli F. White, Steve Toddes, Nicole Bens, Praveen Kulkarni, Craig F. Ferris
Summary: Unwanted proteins and metabolic waste in cerebral spinal fluid are cleared from the brain through meningeal and nasal lymphatics and the perineural sheath of cranial nerves. Cryo-fluorescence tomography (CFT) was used to trace the movement of tracers in the spinal cord. The study found that quantum dots rapidly clear from the brain of awake mice and are distributed along a major length of the vertebral column.
JOURNAL OF IMAGING
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Heather Brenhouse
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Neurosciences
Heather Brenhouse, Lauren Granata
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
