This article discusses research funded by the National Institutes of health (NIH) too understand how early-life trauma affects brain circuits related to aggression and attention. The key findings and implications are:
Circuit Disruption: Early trauma can alter brain networks responsible for attention and aggression.
Targeted Region: The nucleus reuniens, which connects brain areas involved in emotion and memory, is a key focus of this research.
* Therapy Potential: The findings coudl lead to new therapies for trauma-induced aggression, which is a notable public health issue contributing to societal problems like violence and incarceration.
The research, led by neuroscientist sora Shin at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, aims to identify potential therapeutic targets by understanding the neurobiological basis of aggression and how early experiences shape brain development. The study will utilize advanced techniques like CRISPR gene editing and optogenetics in mice to investigate how trauma-related changes in the nucleus reuniens and its connections to the hippocampus influence aggressive behavior and attention.