Early-life maturation of the somatosensory cortex: sensory experience and beyond

Front Neural Circuits. 2024 Jul 8:18:1430783. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1430783. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Early life experiences shape physical and behavioral outcomes throughout lifetime. Sensory circuits are especially susceptible to environmental and physiological changes during development. However, the impact of different types of early life experience are often evaluated in isolation. In this mini review, we discuss the specific effects of postnatal sensory experience, sleep, social isolation, and substance exposure on barrel cortex development. Considering these concurrent factors will improve understanding of the etiology of atypical sensory perception in many neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Keywords: REM Sleep; barrel cortex development; cross-modal sensory experience; early life experience; early social isolation; sensory deprivation; somatosensory perception.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Sleep / physiology
  • Social Isolation / psychology
  • Somatosensory Cortex* / growth & development
  • Somatosensory Cortex* / physiology

Grants and funding

The authors declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was supported by the grants from NINDS 1R00NS114166 (AC), 1R01NS133434 (AC), NIDA 1R01DA059378 (AC), and State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (AC). This publication does not express the views of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or the State of Connecticut.