Alterations in hippocampal neurogenesis and pain behavior in mice
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2009
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Haverford College. Department of Psychology
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Haverford users only
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Abstract
Neurogenesis, after being a target of harsh criticism and controversial overturn, has recently become largely accepted by the scientific community. It is now known that besides being born during embryonic and early postnatal development, new neurons are generated during adult lifetime. New evidence suggests that neurogenesis not only correlates with hippocampal learning and memory but may also be required for learning. It is thought that learning promotes the retention of new neurons. In the case of stress, which decreases adult neurogenesis, learning seems to be impaired. On the contrary, physical exercise enhances the generation of new neurons. Different studies have proposed that the cellular mechanism of neurogenesis is similar to the mechanism involving nerve plasticity in the pain pathway or central sensitization which is changes that occur in the brain after repeated nerve stimulation. The central focus of this study is to examine the effect of neurogenesis on pain behavior, especially, the relationship between neurogenesis and SIA (stress induced analgesia) and late-phase formalin pain behavior. The influences of social and physical environments, sex, stress and exercise have been studied in relation to neurogenesis and pain respectively, extending similar findings from research done by Stranahan, Khalil and Gould (2006): social context and exercise influence endocrine and neural responses, thus rates of neurogenesis. We expect mice runner living in group house to have increase neurogenesis, decreased in formalin pain and decreased stress-induced analgesia; however, final inconsistent findings did not show changes in neurogenesis and are less than conclusive to support this hypothesis.