New research from Guangzhou University and South China Normal University reveals neural mechanisms underlying the transmission of adolescent anxiety to others following maternal separation in infancy.
It is known that humans and rodents are capable of transmitting stress to their partners via social interaction.
However, a comprehensive understanding of transmitted stress, which may differ from authentic stress, thus revealing unique neural mechanisms of social interaction resulting from transmitted stress and the associated anxiety, is missing.
“Severe instances of stress experienced early in life (ELS) are a risk factor for developing neuropsychiatric diseases, such as anxiety, later in life,” said study’s lead author Jinxiang Jiang and colleagues.
“Research has focused on the molecular and circuit-based mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, but little is known about how even just witnessing another individual experiencing ELS, which can occur in homes with siblings or during friendships in youth, impacts individuals at a later timepoint.”
“Maternal separation during infancy is frequently used as a research model for ELS and its aftermath, but the effects of witnessing another experience maternal separation are unexplored.”
In their research, Dr. Jiang and co-authors used mice to investigate whether witnessing littermates experience maternal separation alters synaptic strength and behavior at a later timepoint (adolescence).
They found significant changes in synaptic strength on a neuron population in the anterior cingulate cortex, which encodes physical and social pain, as well as a transfer of anxiety-like behavior.
The findings suggest that emotional contagion can impact the brain in a long-lasting manner.
“Our results suggest that emotional contagion has a severe effect on brain function, and identify a potential target for the treatment of transmitted anxiety,” the authors concluded.
The study was published in the Journal of…
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