Developmental regulation of fear learning and anxiety behavior by endocannabinoids.

ABSTRACT: The developing brain undergoes substantial maturation into adulthood and the development of specific neural structures occurs on differing timelines. Transient imbalances between developmental trajectories of corticolimbic structures, which are known to contribute to regulation over fear learning and anxiety, can leave an individual susceptible to mental illness, particularly anxiety disorders. There is a substantial body of literature indicating that the endocannabinoid (eCB) system critically regulates stress responsivity and emotional behavior throughout the life span, making this system a novel therapeutic target for stress- and anxiety-related disorders. During early life and adolescence, corticolimbic eCB signaling changes dynamically and coincides with different sensitive periods of

SUBMITTER: Lee TT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4713313 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature