In this new series, we are going to highlight the different articles published by the consortium, in a more accessible version for the general public.
For this third edition, let’s have a look at this article published by our colleagues from Universitat Jaume I (Spain) entitled « Activation of somatostatin neurons in the medial amygdala reverses long-term aggression and social deficits associated to early-life stress in male mice ». This article is available here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-024-02829-6
Let’s have a look!
The first years of life are a critical period for brain development, especially for the areas that manage our emotions and social relationships. When a child grows up in a stressful environment (such as early separation from parents), they are at higher risk of developing behavioral difficulties: aggression, social integration problems, or other maladaptive behaviors, either immediately or later in adulthood.
What Happens in the Brain? Researchers studied the impact of early separation in mice. They found that this separation led to a long-term reduction in the number of certain neurons (somatostatin-expressing neurons) in a brain region called the amygdala, which plays a central role in emotion regulation. In males, not only were these neurons fewer in number, but their activity was also reduced in a specific part of the amygdala.
What Are the Behavioral Consequences? Males that experienced early separation showed signs of social difficulties: less interest in others, less curiosity toward new individuals, and increased aggression in various tests.
Can These Effects Be Reversed? Scientists attempted to artificially stimulate these neurons in adult males that had undergone early separation. The result: by reactivating these neurons, they were able to improve social interest and reduce aggression.
In Summary This study shows that early stress can leave lasting traces in the brain, particularly by affecting key neurons involved in emotions and social relationships. The good news is that these effects are not irreversible: by targeting these neurons, behavioral disorders can be mitigated.