Variations in maternal care causally alter DNA methylation at the glucocorticoid receptor promoter with lasting effects on stress reactivity, as the review reports from Meaney and colleagues¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2016 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? The review attributes to Meaney and colleagues the discovery of a causal role for epigenetic mechanisms in behavioural regulation via maternal-care-driven, reversible DNA methylation changes affecting later stress reactivity. → Paul Marshall and Timothy W Bredy 2016

Evidence¶

Paul Marshall and Timothy W Bredy 2016¶

Paul Marshall and Timothy W Bredy. (2016). Cognitive neuroepigenetics: the next evolution in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory? npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/npjscilearn.2016.14

q2 · i? · review · r2

Narrative review reporting Meaney and colleagues' discovery of "a causal role for epigenetic mechanisms in behavioural regulation", with reversible methylation changes in the glucocorticoid receptor promoter and significant later effects on stress reactivity. The review prints no effect size for this finding.

"Meaney and colleagues discovered a causal role for epigenetic mechanisms in behavioural regulation by showing that variations in maternal care lead to reversible changes in DNA methylation within the glucocorticoid receptor promoter, resulting in significant effects on reactivity to stress later in life."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Gene-specific DNA methylation and histone modification are associated with memory formation, as the review reports from Sweatt and colleagues' studies — related
• Parental presence and support buffer children's neurobiological stress responses, mitigating adversity effects when support is high — related
• Chronicity, developmental timing, and intensity of adversity exposure shape children's neurobiological stress responses — related