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It has been reported
previously that early life experiences such as prenatal stress can significantly
influence the development of the brain and the organization of behavior.
In particular,
prenatal stress seems to have the ability to impair memory processes,
although researchers note that the mechanism for this effect is unknown.
In performing experiments on rats, researchers have found that prenatal
stress:
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Induced a life-long
reduction of the creation of neural cells (neurogenesis)in a portion
of the brain known as the dentate gyrus, which is involved in the
ability of the brain to store new memories
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Produced impairment
in certain spatial tasks
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Blocked the normal
increase of learning-induced neurogenesis.
The authors conclude, "These data strengthen
pathophysiological hypotheses that propose an early neurodevelopmental
origin for psychopathological vulnerabilities in aging."
Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. USA, September 26, 2000; 97: 11032-11037
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