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The Journal of Neuroscience, September 10, 2003, 23(23):8254-8260

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Modification of Social Memory, Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis, and Brain Asymmetry by Neonatal Novelty Exposure

Akaysha C. Tang,^1,2,3 Bethany C. Reeb,¹ Russell D. Romeo,⁴ and Bruce S. McEwen⁴

Departments of ¹Psychology, ²Neurosciences, and ³Computer Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, and ⁴The Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021

Although corticosterone (a stress hormone) is known to influence social behavior and memory processes, little has been explored concerning its modulatory role in social recognition. In rats, social recognition memory for conspecifics typically lasts <2 hr when evaluated using a habituation paradigm. Using neonatal novelty exposure, a brief and transient early life stimulation method known to produce long-lasting changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, we found that social recognition memory was prolonged to at least 24 hr during adulthood. This prolonged social memory was paralleled by a reduction in the basal blood concentration of corticosterone. The same neonatal stimulation also resulted in a functional asymmetry expressed as a greater right-turn preference in a novel environment. Rats that preferred to turn right showed better social recognition memory. These inter-related changes in basal blood corticosterone concentration, turning asymmetry, and social recognition memory suggest that stress hormones and brain asymmetry are likely candidates for modulating social memory. Furthermore, given that neonatal stimulation has been shown to improve learning and memory performance primarily under aversive learning situations, the neonatal novelty exposure-induced enhancement in social recognition broadens the impact of early life stimulation to include the social domain.

Key words: social recognition memory; novelty; neonatal stimulation; HPA axis; lateralization; rats; asymmetry; CORT; corticosterone; neonatal handling; memory enhancement

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Received June 10, 2003; revised July 18, 2003; accepted July 21, 2003.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. C. Tang, K. G. Akers, B. C. Reeb, R. D. Romeo, and B. S. McEwen Programming social, cognitive, and neuroendocrine development by early exposure to novelty PNAS, October 17, 2006; 103(42): 15716 - 15721. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. N. Schore Back to Basics: Attachment, Affect Regulation, and the Developing Right Brain: Linking Developmental Neuroscience to Pediatrics Pediatr. Rev., June 1, 2005; 26(6): 204 - 217. [Full Text] [PDF]

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