title: Impaired Functional Connectivity in the Prefrontal Cortex: A Mechanism for Chronic Stress-Induced Neuropsychiatric Disorders.
abstract: Chronic stress-related psychiatric diseases, such as major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia, are characterized by a maladaptive organization of behavioral responses that strongly affect the well-being of patients. Current evidence suggests that a functional impairment of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is implicated in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Therefore, chronic stress may impair PFC functions required for the adaptive orchestration of behavioral responses. In the present review, we integrate evidence obtained from cognitive neuroscience with neurophysiological research with animal models, to put forward a hypothesis that addresses stress-induced behavioral dysfunctions observed in stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. We propose that chronic stress impairs mechanisms involved in neuronal functional connectivity in the PFC that are required for the formation of adaptive representations for the execution of adaptive behavioral responses. These considerations could be particularly relevant for understanding the pathophysiology of chronic stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avenida Marcoleta No. 391, 8320000 Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Negrón-Oyarzo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avenida Marcoleta No. 391, 8320000 Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aboitiz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avenida Marcoleta No. 391, 8320000 Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fuentealba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D058256:Brain Waves; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*