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Social Behavior from Rodents to Humans pp 411–429Cite as

The Programming of the Social Brain by Stress During Childhood and Adolescence: From Rodents to Humans

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Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 30))

Abstract

The quality and quantity of social experience is fundamental to an individual’s health and well-being. Early life stress is known to be an important factor in the programming of the social brain that exerts detrimental effects on social behaviors. The peri-adolescent period, comprising late childhood and adolescence, represents a critical developmental window with regard to the programming effects of stress on the social brain. Here, we discuss social behavior and the physiological and neurobiological consequences of stress during peri-adolescence in the context of rodent paradigms that model human adversity, including social neglect and isolation, social abuse, and exposure to fearful experiences. Furthermore, we discuss peri-adolescent stress as a potent component that influences the social behaviors of individuals in close contact with stressed individuals and that can also influence future generations. We also discuss the temporal dynamics programmed by stress on the social brain and debate whether social behavior alterations are adaptive or maladaptive. By revising the existing literature and defining open questions, we aim to expand the framework in which interactions among peri-adolescent stress, the social brain, and behavior can be better conceptualized.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation (31003A-152614 and the NCCR Synapsy), the EU FP7 project MATRICS (no 603016), Oak Foundation, and intramural funding from the EPFL.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Rue Du Bugnon 9, CH-1005, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Stamatina Tzanoulinou

  2. Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1050, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Carmen Sandi

Authors
  1. Stamatina Tzanoulinou
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  2. Carmen Sandi
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Correspondence to Carmen Sandi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Neuroscience, Experim. and Physiological Psychology Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Markus Wöhr

  2. Dep of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Sören Krach

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Tzanoulinou, S., Sandi, C. (2015). The Programming of the Social Brain by Stress During Childhood and Adolescence: From Rodents to Humans. In: Wöhr, M., Krach, S. (eds) Social Behavior from Rodents to Humans. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 30. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2015_430

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