About this Research Topic
The stress system includes different components, that are mainly the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis and the Sympathetic Nervous System, and involving as well brain areas, such as the amygdala/hippocampus and the reward system. It has a crucial role in brain development.
Experimental and clinical studies have shown that early life stress, particularly prenatal stress (e.g. malnutrition, psychological stress and trauma, physical illness) causes structural and functional changes during brain development, which are associated with later neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioural disorders.
Beyond its involvement in neurodevelopment, the stress system serves as a major adaptive physiological mechanism in living organisms. Indeed, alterations of stress-related central or peripheral biomarkers have been shown in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. Autism, ADHD) or traits related to altered neurodevelopment (e.g. deficits in attention or cognition).
Although existing research evidence connects early life stressors to alterations in brain development, the pathophysiological mechanisms have not been fully investigated. Furthermore, scarce evidence reveals alterations of the stress system (mainly hypoactivity of the HPA axis) in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
This Research Topic focuses on contributing stress-related mechanisms during neurodevelopment, and, concurrent findings of stress system alterations in individuals with neurodevelopmental traits or conditions. The aim is to elucidate and increase our knowledge on the longitudinal role of stress in brain development and in adaptation to everyday and novel/unexpected stimuli.
This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Review articles and meta-analyses.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
-Experimental or clinical studies investigating the effects of early-life (prenatal or postnatal) stressful conditions (e.g. psychological stress and trauma, malnutrition, accidents), acute or continuous, on brain development, as assessed by the measurement of biomarkers (e.g. neuroendocrine testing, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, neuroimaging).
- Studies of the Stress system (through central or peripheral biomarkers) in individuals (preferably children) with Autism, ADHD, Intelectual Disability, etc or traits/symptoms of these conditions.
Experimental and clinical studies have shown that early life stress, particularly prenatal stress (e.g. malnutrition, psychological stress and trauma, physical illness) causes structural and functional changes during brain development, which are associated with later neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioural disorders.
Beyond its involvement in neurodevelopment, the stress system serves as a major adaptive physiological mechanism in living organisms. Indeed, alterations of stress-related central or peripheral biomarkers have been shown in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. Autism, ADHD) or traits related to altered neurodevelopment (e.g. deficits in attention or cognition).
Although existing research evidence connects early life stressors to alterations in brain development, the pathophysiological mechanisms have not been fully investigated. Furthermore, scarce evidence reveals alterations of the stress system (mainly hypoactivity of the HPA axis) in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
This Research Topic focuses on contributing stress-related mechanisms during neurodevelopment, and, concurrent findings of stress system alterations in individuals with neurodevelopmental traits or conditions. The aim is to elucidate and increase our knowledge on the longitudinal role of stress in brain development and in adaptation to everyday and novel/unexpected stimuli.
This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Review articles and meta-analyses.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
-Experimental or clinical studies investigating the effects of early-life (prenatal or postnatal) stressful conditions (e.g. psychological stress and trauma, malnutrition, accidents), acute or continuous, on brain development, as assessed by the measurement of biomarkers (e.g. neuroendocrine testing, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, neuroimaging).
- Studies of the Stress system (through central or peripheral biomarkers) in individuals (preferably children) with Autism, ADHD, Intelectual Disability, etc or traits/symptoms of these conditions.
Keywords: Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Children, Stress system, Brain development, Early life stress
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
