The early-life social environment can induce stable changes that influence
neurodevelopment and mental health. Research focused on early-life adversity revealed
that early-life experiences have a persistent impact on gene expression and behavior
through epigenetic mechanisms. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis is sensitive to
changes in the early-life environment that associate with DNA methylation of a neuron-
specific exon 1 7 promoter of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR)(Nr3c1). Since initial findings …