Journal
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
Volume 33, Issue 6, Pages 773-783Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.11.005
Keywords
Prefrontal cortex; Infralimbic; Prelimbic; Orbitofrontal; Stress; Neuron; Dendrite; Executive function; Working memory; Cognitive flexibility; Attentional set-shifting; Glucocorticoid; Mouse; Rat
Categories
Funding
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse
- Alcoholism Intramural Research Program
- National Institute of Mental Health [MH067607]
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The prefrontal cortex (PFC) mediates a range of higher order 'executive functions' that subserve the selection and processing of information in such a way that behavior can be planned, controlled and directed according to shifting environmental demands. Impairment of executive functions typifies many forms of psychopathology, including schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders and addiction, that are often associated with a history of trauma and stress. Recent research in animal models demonstrates that exposure to even brief periods of intense stress is sufficient to cause significant structural remodeling of the principle projection neurons within the rodent PFC. In parallel, there is growing evidence that stress-induced alterations in PFC neuronal morphology are associated with deficits in rodent executive functions such as working memory, attentional set-shifting and cognitive flexibility, as well as emotional dysregulation in the form of impaired fear extinction. Although the molecular basis of stress-induced changes in PFC morphology and function are only now being elucidated, an understanding of these mechanisms could provide important insight into the pathophysiology of executive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disease and foster improved strategies for treatment. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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