Maternal Style Selectively Shapes Amygdalar Development and Social Behavior in Rats Genetically Prone to High Anxiety

Developmental Neuroscience
Joshua L CohenSarah Clinton

Abstract

The early-life environment critically influences neurodevelopment and later psychological health. To elucidate neural and environmental elements that shape emotional behavior, we developed a rat model of individual differences in temperament and environmental reactivity. We selectively bred rats for high versus low behavioral response to novelty and found that high-reactive (bred high-responder, bHR) rats displayed greater risk-taking, impulsivity and aggression relative to low-reactive (bred low-responder, bLR) rats, which showed high levels of anxiety/depression-like behavior and certain stress vulnerability. The bHR/bLR traits are heritable, but prior work revealed bHR/bLR maternal style differences, with bLR dams showing more maternal attention than bHRs. The present study implemented a cross-fostering paradigm to examine the contribution of maternal behavior to the brain development and emotional behavior of bLR offspring. bLR offspring were reared by biological bLR mothers or fostered to a bLR or bHR mother and then evaluated to determine the effects on the following: (1) developmental gene expression in the hippocampus and amygdala and (2) adult anxiety/depression-like behavior. Genome-wide expression profiling showed th...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 15, 2017·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Joshua L CohenSarah M Clinton
Dec 27, 2018·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Matthew E GloverSarah M Clinton
Apr 1, 2018·Genes, Brain, and Behavior·K Y Sarkisova, A V Gabova
Oct 17, 2015·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Samir RanaIlan A Kerman
Nov 30, 2020·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Elizabeth A ShupeSarah M Clinton
Jul 23, 2019·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Chelsea R McCoySarah M Clinton
Feb 12, 2021·The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry·Sarah M ClintonMatthew E Glover
May 31, 2021·Developmental Psychobiology·Elizabeth A Shupe, Sarah M Clinton

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Amygdala and Midbrain Dopamine

The midbrain dopamine system is widely studied for its involvement in emotional and motivational behavior. Some of these neurons receive information from the amygdala and project throughout the cortex. When the circuit and transmission of dopamine is disrupted symptoms may present. Here is the latest research on the amygdala and midbrain dopamine.

Amygdala: Sensory Processes

Amygdalae, nuclei clusters located in the temporal lobe of the brain, play a role in memory, emotional responses, and decision-making. Here is the latest research on sensory processes in the amygdala.