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The future is now: early life events preset adult behaviour
Author(s) -
Patchev A. V.,
Rodrigues A. J.,
Sousa N.,
Spengler D.,
Almeida O. F. X.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta physiologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.591
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1748-1716
pISSN - 1748-1708
DOI - 10.1111/apha.12140
Subject(s) - mood , psychology , anxiety , perspective (graphical) , neuroscience , stimulus (psychology) , human studies , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , computer science , artificial intelligence
Abstract To consider the evidence that human and animal behaviours are epigenetically programmed by lifetime experiences. Extensive P ub M ed searches were carried out to gain a broad view of the topic, in particular from the perspective of human psychopathologies such as mood and anxiety disorders. The selected literature cited is complemented by previously unpublished data from the authors' laboratories. Evidence that physiological and behavioural functions are particularly sensitive to the programming effects of environmental factors such as stress and nutrition during early life, and perhaps at later stages of life, is reviewed and extended. Definition of stimulus‐ and function‐specific critical periods of programmability together with deeper understanding of the molecular basis of epigenetic regulation will deliver greater appreciation of the full potential of the brain's plasticity while providing evidence‐based social, psychological and pharmacological interventions to promote lifetime well‐being.