Figure 2.

The shaping of behavioral profile by early adversity. Through influencing maternal hormones and maternal behavior early adversity shapes offspring behavioral profile. This process is modulated for instance by the 5-HTT genotype and in principle adjusts the offspring to environmental conditions of adversity (adaptation). An impaired 5-HTT expression, however, increases the risk of emotional disorders (pathology). Notably, a direct influence of early adversity on the offspring, as well as the possible role of father, siblings, or the whole social group is not considered in this schema. Changed after Sachser et al. (2010).