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Epigenetic regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor: Implications in neurodevelopment and behavior

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2012

Benjamin D. Schanker
Benjamin D. Schanker*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115. bdschanker@gmail.com http://www.massgeneral.org/psychiatry/research/pngu_home.aspx
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Abstract

Several recent research findings have implicated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a mediator of neuronal plasticity. The BDNF gene is under extensive epigenetic regulation, which modulates how much or how little environmental experiences become encoded within neurons and neural circuits. Future scientific progress within the postgenomic paradigm requires elucidation of the functional trajectory in neogenetic and environment interactions.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 35 , Issue 5 , October 2012 , pp. 377 - 378
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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