Cited by 574Epigenetics and DNA MethylationMemory and Neural MechanismsBirth, Development, and Health

Epigenetics and the environmental regulation of the genome and its function

Zhang, Tie-Yuan, Meaney, Michael J.·2010·Annual Review of Psychology

Abstract

There are numerous examples in psychology and other disciplines of the enduring effects of early experience on neural function. In this article, we review the emerging evidence for epigenetics as a candidate mechanism for these effects. Epigenetics refers to functionally relevant modifications to the genome that do not involve a change in nucleotide sequence. Such modifications include chemical marks that regulate the transcription of the genome. There is now evidence that environmental events can directly modify the epigenetic state of the genome. Thus studies with rodent models suggest that during both early development and in adult life, environmental signals can activate intracellular pathways that directly remodel the "epigenome," leading to changes in gene expression and neural function. These studies define a biological basis for the interplay between environmental signals and the genome in the regulation of individual differences in behavior, cognition, and physiology.

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Crossref · 10.1146/annurev.psych.60.110707.163625

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Authors
Zhang, T.-Y., & Meaney, M. J.
Affiliations
  • Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology of McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute and the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Montreal, Quebec, H4H 1R3 Canada;
  • Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CA)
Venue
Annual Review of Psychology
Published
2010-01-01
Volume
61
Issue
1
Pages
439-466
ISSN
  • 0066-4308 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-2085
OpenAlex
W2172126177
Cited by
565
References
181
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 53 · 2012: 58
FWCI
3.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Annual Review of Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
Keywords
epigenetics, early life experience, gene expression, transcriptional regulation, neural function, individual differences in behavior, cognition, rodent models, environmental cues
MeSH terms
Animals, Environment, Humans, Maternal Behavior, Genome, Genomic Imprinting, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic

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