The Stressed Social Brain: From Animals to Humans

This lecture explores the impact of stress on neuropsychopathology and the associated epigenetic mechanisms, focusing on the social brain. It delves into the physiological stress responses, glucocorticoid receptors, and the effects of peripubertal stress on behavior and aggression. The lecture also discusses the transgenerational transmission of violence induced by stress and the reversibility of stress-induced alterations through pharmacological treatment. Major forms of epigenetic modifications, including histone acetylation and methylation, are explained, along with the reprogramming of DNA methylation in mice. The implications of stress on social behavior, aggression, and mental health are highlighted, emphasizing the interplay between early life stress, genetics, and social behavior.