Figure 2.

Long-term neuroplastic alterations induced by early-life stress and chronic stress. (a) Basal condition: presynaptic neuron (light blue), postsynaptic neuron (pink). (b) Repeated episodes of stress in early life or in adulthood induce an increase in glucocorticoids associated with a transient increase in glutamate release both in the synaptic cleft and in the extrasynaptic space. Increase in glutamate release may activate reprogramming mechanisms that lead to either reduced synaptic efficacy (c) or loss of synaptic contacts (d).