Social behavior, hormones and adult neurogenesis

Maya Opendak; Brandy A Briones; Elizabeth Gould

doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.02.002

Social behavior, hormones and adult neurogenesis

Front Neuroendocrinol. 2016 Apr:41:71-86. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 Mar 17.

Authors

Maya Opendak¹, Brandy A Briones¹, Elizabeth Gould²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
² Department of Psychology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. Electronic address: goulde@princeton.edu.

PMID: 26996817
DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.02.002

Abstract

A variety of experiences have been shown to affect the production of neurons in the adult hippocampus. These effects may be mediated by experience-driven hormonal changes, which, in turn, interact with factors such as sex, age and life history to alter brain plasticity. Although the effects of physical experience and stress have been extensively characterized, various types of social experience across the lifespan trigger profound neuroendocrine changes in parallel with changes in adult neurogenesis. This review article focuses on the influence of specific social experiences on adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and the potential role of hormones in these effects.

Keywords: Adult neurogenesis; Hippocampus; Hormones; Social behavior; Stress.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Dentate Gyrus / metabolism
Dentate Gyrus / physiology*
Gonadal Steroid Hormones / physiology*
Neurogenesis / physiology*
Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology*
Social Behavior*
Stress, Psychological / metabolism
Stress, Psychological / physiopathology*

Substances

Gonadal Steroid Hormones