| Literature DB >> 19455173 |
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) - the most evolved brain region - subserves our highest-order cognitive abilities. However, it is also the brain region that is most sensitive to the detrimental effects of stress exposure. Even quite mild acute uncontrollable stress can cause a rapid and dramatic loss of prefrontal cognitive abilities, and more prolonged stress exposure causes architectural changes in prefrontal dendrites. Recent research has begun to reveal the intracellular signalling pathways that mediate the effects of stress on the PFC. This research has provided clues as to why genetic or environmental insults that disinhibit stress signalling pathways can lead to symptoms of profound prefrontal cortical dysfunction in mental illness.Entities:
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Year: 2009 PMID: 19455173 PMCID: PMC2907136 DOI: 10.1038/nrn2648
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Nat Rev Neurosci ISSN: 1471-003X Impact factor: 34.870