When the same process is interrupted in adults, no such behavioral
changes were noted, according to research published in the Oct. 4 issue
of the journal Neuroscience.
The social behavior of mice seems to be dictated by creation of new neurons in adolescence.
"This has important implications in understanding social development
at the molecular level," said Arie Kaffman, assistant professor of
psychiatry and senior author of the study.
Scientists have known for quite some time that new brain cells are
continually generated in specific brain regions after birth. This
process, called neurogenesis, occurs at a significantly greater rate
during childhood and adolescence than in adulthood, yet most research
has focused upon the function of these neurons in older brains.
The Yale team decided to explore the function of these new brain
cells in mice of different ages. Normal adult mice tend to spend a lot
of time exploring and interacting with unfamiliar mice. However, adult
mice that had neurogenesis blocked during adolescence showed no interest
in exploring other adult mice and even evaded attempts made by other
mice to engage in social behavior.
"These mice acted like they did not recognize other mice as mice," Kaffman said.
Blocking adult neurogenesis had no effect on social behavior,
suggesting that brain cells generated during adolescence make a very
different contribution to brain function and behavior in adulthood, note
the scientists.
Intriguingly, schizophrenics have a deficit in generating new neurons
in the hippocampus, one of the brain areas where new neurons are
created. Given that symptoms of schizophrenia first emerge in
adolescence, it is possible that deficits in generating new neurons
during adolescence or even in childhood holds new insights into the
development of some of the social and cognitive deficits seen in this
illness, Kaffman said.
From sciencedaily
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