Regulation of adult neurogenesis by psychotropic drugs and stress

Proliferation and maturation of neurons has been demonstrated to occur at a significant rate in discrete regions of adult brain, including the hippoca mpus and subventricular zone. Moreover, adult neurogenesis is an extremely dynamic process that is regulated in both a positive and negative manner by neuronal activity and environmental factors. It has been suggested to play a role in several important neuronal functions, including learning, memory , and response to novelty. In addition, exposure to psychotropic drugs or s tress regulates the rate of neurogenesis in adult brain, suggesting a possi ble role for neurogenesis in the pathophysiology and treatment of neurobiol ogical illnesses such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and dr ug abuse. As the mechanisms that control adult neurogenesis continue to be identified, the exciting prospect of developing pharmacological agents that specifically regulate the proliferation and maturation of neurons in the a dult brain could be fulfilled.