Neuroepigenetics and Biological Mechanisms of Stress-Induced Socio-Cognitive Changes

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Background

Complementary research data have shown that moderate activation of physiological stress systems is beneficial for learning, but prolonged exposure to stressful events may lead to profound changes in brain function and structure that are inextricably linked to life-long behavioral abnormalities and vulnerability to cognitive defects.

Many studies that investigated chronic psychological or unpredictable stress effects have reported alteration in microglial morphology in the medial prefrontal cortex, overexposure of the brain to glucocorticoids caused by dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, enhanced glutamate neurotransmission and decreased hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Some recent studies have also shown that stress induced cognitive anomalies are linked to activation of kynurenine pathway whereas the roles played by calcium signalling, mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane proteome and autophagy-related proteins are gaining attention. These enduring changes are known to underlie the development and progression of several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.

Over the years, burgeoning fields of social and behavioral neuroscience have identified social functioning as one of the important contributors to psychopathological reactions to chronic stress and recovery. Despite this knowledge, little is known about the underlying biological mechanisms of stress-induced socio-cognitive changes, the intricacies of environmental signals bordering on stress-activated brain regions, and the involvement of bi-directionality of interactions among several neural systems. Moreover, stress-induced changes in epigenomic functions and transgenerational inheritance remain controversial to date.

The purpose of this Research Topic is to collect preclinical and clinical studies with the most updated knowledge focused on elucidating how biological and environmental factors converge to influence biobehavioural response and neurocognitive functions under stressful conditions, impacting learning and memory processes.
We aim to collect contributions highlighting the potential roles of the epigenome, the mechanistic links between stress exposure and the development of socio-cognitive disorders with focus on memory dysfunctions, and current pharmacotherapies being adopted or under development.

To address these questions, we welcome research studies conducted on established animal models of stress adopting both in vivo and in vitro approaches, using diverse stress paradigms according to the model organism and stress-assessment parameters. Research outputs should be corroborated by underlying molecular and genetic evidence.

We welcome authors to address, but not limited to, the following:

• Impact of prolonged stress exposure on socio-cognitive development.
• Neural mechanisms associated with acute/chronic stress and memory dysfunction.
• Evidence and studies on models of socially transmitted chronic stress.
• Activation of stress systems, the interaction of multiple neuromodulators, and inflammatory response.
• Neuro-immunological mechanisms of stress-induced cognitive impairment.
• Epigenetic mechanisms, resilience, and vulnerability to stress-induced cognitive changes.
• Long-lasting effects of early life adversity exposure and transgenerational inheritance.
• Evidence from sex-specific differences in biobehavioural response to stress.

Keywords: Stress, cognition, social memory, epigenetics, sexual dimorphism, trans-generational inheritance, learning processes, memory

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.

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