Adult neurogenesis and stress

The production of new neurons, or neurogenesis, has been shown in multiple mammalian species in adulthood in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Stress has been shown to alter brain plasticity and furthermore inhibit neurogenesis in the hippocampus in which changes appear to be mediated not only by glucocorticoid hormones but also by the context in which stress occurs and the valence and duration of the stressor. This chapter provides an overview of the effects of stress in adult hippocampal neurogenesis and how these stress-induced changes may alter or change behaviors associated with the hippocampus, suggesting a potential target for understanding and developing novel therapies for stress-related disorders.