• Cognition and neuronal/glial plasticity

  Our lab has investigated the underpinnings of cognitive optimization and decline in response to different environmental conditions. Physical exercise is known to improve performance on tasks that require the hippocampus and we have also shown running-induced cognitive enhancement on tasks that require the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the rat. Similar to what has been observed for the hippocampus, running also increases dendritic spine density and synaptic protein expression in the mPFC. Furthermore, running increases the size of astrocytes as well as the expression of a water channel protein on their endfeet contacting blood vessels. These findings raise the possibility that running enhances cognition in part by stimulating plasticity among astrocytes. Ongoing studies in our lab are investigating the role of astrocytic plasticity in cognitive optimization. Conversely, obesity is known to impair performance on cognitive tasks that require the hippocampus. We have found that high fat diet-induced obesity impairs performance on mPFC-dependent tasks and is associated with a reduction in dendritic spine density and the expression of several synaptic markers in the rat mPFC. Along with these neuronal changes, obesity alters microglial morphology. Ongoing studies in our lab are investigating the role of microglia in obesity-induced synapse loss and cognitive decline.

• Anxiety regulation and neuronal plasticity

  Our lab has investigated mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic actions of physical exercise. Running is known to enhance adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus as well as increase the number of dendritic spines throughout hippocampal circuitry. In addition, we have shown that under conditions of stress, extracellular GABA is increased and both new and mature excitatory neurons are silenced in the hippocampus of runner mice. Moreover, blockade of GABAergic receptors in the ventral hippocampus prevents running-induced anxiety reduction. In other studies, we have shown that anxiety regulation under sedentary conditions involves neuronal gap junction signaling in the ventral hippocampal-medial prefrontal pathway. Gap junction protein expression is elevated in hippocampal interneurons of runners but it remains unclear whether running-induced anxiety reduction involves changes in gap junction signaling.

• Social behavior and adult neurogenesis

  Our lab has studied the effects of living in a dominance hierarchy on adult neurogenesis in the rat dentate gyrus. We have found that living in a stable hierarchy enhances adult neurogenesis in dominants compared to subordinates, an effect that is likely due to increased sexual behavior among dominants. Disruption of a stable hierarchy leads to increased aggression and an overall decrease in the production of new neurons regardless of dominance position. Reduced adult neurogenesis that occurs with social instability is associated with persistent changes in functions associated with the hippocampus, including anxiety regulation and social behavior. In a series of recent studies, we have found that social disruption-induced reduction in the number of new neurons plays an important role in shaping social behavior in a potentially adaptive way.

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• 2010-Present
• 2000-2009
• 1990-1999

• 2010-Present

  • Brockett AT, Kane GA, Monari PK, Briones BA, Vigneron PA, Barber GA, Bermudez A, Dieffenbach U, Kloth AD, Buschman TJ, Gould E. (2018) Evidence supporting a role for astrocytes in the regulation of cognitive flexibility and neuronal oscillations through the CA2+ binding protein S100β. PLoS One. 13(4): e0195726.
    PMID: 29664924 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Galea LAM. (2018) Fifty years of stress and more to come: A tribute to Bruce S. McEwen. Front Neuroendocrinol.
    PMID: 29574115 | PDF Download

  • Cope EC, Gould E. (2017) New Evidence Linking Obesity and Food Addiction. Biol Psychiatry. 81:734–736.
    PMID: 28391804 | PDF Download

  • Opendak M, Gould E, Sullivan R. (2017) Early life adversity during the infant sensitive period for attachment: Programming of behavioral neurobiology of threat processing and social behavior. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 25:145–159.
    PMID: 28254197 | PDF Download

  • Cope EC, Gould E. (2017) Adult Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus: A Role in Learning and Memory. In: Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference. 345-358
    Please contact the authors for a copy.

  • Cope EC, Briones BA, Brockett AT, Martinez S, Vigneron PA, Opendak M, Wang SS, Gould E. (2016) Immature Neurons and Radial Glia, But Not Astrocytes or Microglia, Are Altered in Adult Cntnap2 and Shank3 Mice, Models of Autism. eNeuro. 3. pii: ENEURO.0196-16.
    PMID: 27785461 | PDF Download

  • Opendak M, Offit L, Monari P, Schoenfeld TJ, Sonti AN, Cameron HA, Gould E. (2016) Lasting Adaptations in Social Behavior Produced by Social Disruption and Inhibition of Adult Neurogenesis. J Neurosci. 36:7027-38.
    PMID: 27358459 | PDF Download

  • Opendak M, Briones BA, Gould E. (2016) Social behavior, hormones and adult neurogenesis. Front Neuroendocrinol. 41:71-86.
    PMID: 26996817 | PDF Download

  • Bocarsly ME, Fasolino M, Kane GA, LaMarca EA, Kirschen GW, Karatsoreos IN, McEwen BS, Gould E. (2015) Obesity diminishes synaptic markers, alters microglial morphology, and impairs cognitive function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 112:15731-6.
    PMID: 26644559 | PDF Download

  • Glasper ER, LaMarca EA, Bocarsly ME, Fasolino M, Opendak M, Gould E. (2015) Sexual experience enhances cognitive flexibility and dendritic spine density in the medial prefrontal cortex. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 125:73-9
    PMID: 26188276 | PDF Download

  • Brockett A, LaMarca EA, Gould E. (2015) Running enhances cognitive flexibility as well as astrocytic and synaptic markers in the prefrontal cortex. PLOS ONE. 10(5):e0124859
    PMID: 25938418 | PDF Download

  • Opendak M, Gould E. (2015) Adult neurogenesis: a substrate for experience-dependent change. TICS. 19:151-61
    PMID: 25715908 | PDF Download

  • Schoenfeld TJ, Kloth AD, Hsueh B, Runkle MB, Kane GA, Wang SS, Gould E. (2014) Gap junctions in the ventral hippocampal-medial prefrontal pathway are involved in anxiety regulation. J Neurosci.34:15679-88
    PMID: 25411496 | PDF Download

  • Schoenfeld TJ, Gould E. (2013) Differential effects of stress and glucocorticoids on adult neurogenesis. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 15:139-64
    PMID: 23670817 | PDF Download

  • Cope EC, Gould E. (2013) Cytokines make an indelible impression on neural stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 13(5):507-8.
    PMID: 24209754 | PDF Download

  • Glasper ER, Gould E. (2013) Sexual experience restores age-related decline in adult neurogenesis and hippocampal function. Hippocampus. 23: 303-312.
    PMID: 23460298 | PDF Download

  • Schoenfeld TJ, Rada P, Pieruzzini PR, Hsueh B, Gould E. (2013) Physical exercise prevents stress-induced activation of granule neurons and enhances local inhibitory mechanisms in the dentate gyrus. J Neurosci. 33: 7770-7777.
    PMID: 23637169 | PDF Download

  • Schoenfeld TJ, Gould E. (2012) Stress, stress hormones and adult neurogenesis. Exp Neurol. 233:12-21.
    PMID: 21281629 | PDF Download

  • Glasper ER, Schoenfeld TJ, Gould E. (2012) Adult neurogenesis: Optimizing hippocampal function to suit the environment. Behav Brain Res. 227:380-383.
    PMID: 21624398 | PDF Download

  • Leuner B, Caponiti JM, Gould E. (2012) Oxytocin stimulates adult neurogenesis even under conditions of stress and elevated glucocorticoids. Hippocampus. 22: 861-868.
    PMID: 21692136 | PDF Download

  • Schoenfeld TJ, Gould E. (2012) New neurons retire early. Nature Neurosci. 15: 1611-1612.
    PMID: 23187692 | PDF Download

  • Opendak M, Gould E. (2011) New neurons maintain efficient stress recovery. Cell Stem Cell. 9(4):287-8.
    PMID: 21982225 | PDF Download

  • Glasper ER, Kozorovitskiy Y, Pavlic A, Gould E. (2011) Paternal experience suppresses adult neurogenesis without altering hippocampal function in Peromyscus californicus. J Comp Neurol. 519:2271-81.
    PMID: 21456007 | PDF Download

  • Schoenfeld TJ, Gould E. (2011) Stress and adult neurogenesis. In: The Handbook of Stress. Ed: Conrad CD. Wiley-Blackwell.
    PDF Download

  • Leuner B, Caponiti JM, Gould E. (2011) Oxytocin stimulates adult neurogenesis even under conditions of stress and elevated glucocorticoids. Hippocampus. Jun 20. [Epub ahead of print]
    PMID: 21692136 | PDF Download

  • Leuner B, Gould E. (2010) Dendritic growth in medial prefrontal cortex and cognitive flexibility are enhanced during the postpartum period. J Neurosci. 30:13499-503.
    PMID: 20926675 | PDF Download

  • Leuner B, Glasper ER, Gould E. (2010) Parenting and plasticity. Trends Neurosci. 33(10):465-73.
    PMID: 20832872 | PDF Download

  • Leuner B, Glasper ER, Gould E. (2010) Sexual experience promotes adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus despite an initial elevation in stress hormones. PLoS One. 5:e11597.
    PMID: 20644737 | PDF Download

  • Glasper ER, Llorens-Martin MV, Leuner B, Gould E, Trejo JL. (2010) Blockade of insulin-like growth factor-I has complex effects on structural plasticity in the hippocampus. Hippocampus. 20:706-12.
    PMID: 19603528 | PDF Download

  • Leuner B, Gould E. (2010) Structural plasticity and hippocampal function. Annu Rev Psychol. 61:111-40.
    PMID: 19575621 | PDF Download

• 2000-2009

  • Leuner B, Glasper ER, Gould E. (2009) Thymidine analog methods for studies of adult neurogenesis are not equally sensitive. J Comp Neurol. 517(2):123-33.
    PMID: 19731267 | PDF Download

  • Glasper, ER, Leuner, B, Gould E. (2008). Adult neurogenesis finds its niche. Nature Neuroscience. 11: 731.
    PDF Download

  • Leuner B, Kozorovitskiy Y, Gross CG, Gould E. (2007) Diminished adult neurogenesis in the marmoset brain precedes old age. PNAS USA 104: 17169-73.
    PMID: 17940008 | PDF Download

  • Gould E. (2007) How widespread is adult neurogenesis in mammals? Nature Rev Neurosci. 8: 481-8.
    PMID: 17514200 | PDF Download | Additional Information

  • Stranahan AM, Khalil D, Gould E. (2007) Running induces widespread structural alterations in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. Hippocampus 17: 1017-22.
    PMID: 17636549 | PDF Download

  • Leuner B, Mirescu C, Noiman L, Gould E. (2007) Maternal experience inhibits the production of immature neurons in the hippocampus during the postpartum period through elevations in adrenal steroids. Hippocampus 17: 434-42.
    PMID: 17397044 | PDF Download

  • Gould E. (2007) Structural Plasticity In: The Hippocampus Book. Ed: Andersen P, Morris J, O'Keefe J. Oxford Univ Press 321-342.

  • Leuner B, Waddel J, Gould E, Shors TJ. (2006) Temporal discontiguity is neither necessary nor sufficient for learning-induced effects on adult neurogenesis. Journal of Neurosci 27: 13437-42.
    PMID: 17192426 | PDF Download

  • Mirescu C, Peters JD, Noiman L, Gould E. (2006). Sleep deprivation inhibits adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus by elevating glucocorticoids. PNAS USA 103:19170-5.
    PMID: 17135354 | PDF Download

  • Kozorovitskiy Y, Hughes M, Lee K, Gould E. (2006) Fatherhood affects dendritic spines and vasopressin V1a receptors in the primate prefrontal cortex. Nature Neuroscience. 9:1094-5.
    PMID: 16921371 | PDF Download

  • Leuner B, Gould E, Shors TJ. (2006) Is there a link between adult neurogenesis and learning? Hippocampus 16:216-24.
    PMID: 16421862 | PDF Download

  • Stranahan AM, Khalil D, Gould E. (2006) Social isolation delays the positive effects of running on adult neurogenesis. Nature Neuroscience. 9:526-33.
    PMID: 16531997 | PDF Download

  • Mirescu C, Gould E. (2006) Stress and adult neurogenesis. Hippocampus 16:233-8.
    PMID: 16411244 | PDF Download

  • Kozorovitskiy Y, Gross CG, Kopil C, Battaglia L, McBreen M, Stranahan AM, Gould E. (2005) Experience induces structural and biochemical changes in the adult primate brain. PNAS USA 102:17478-82.
    PMID: 16299105 | PDF Download

  • Tanapat P, Hastings NB, Gould E. (2005) Ovarian steroids influence cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of the adult female rat in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 481:252-65.
    PMID: 15593136 | PDF Download

  • Leuner B, Mendolia-Loffredo S, Kozorovitskiy Y, Samburg D, Gould E, Shors TJ. (2004) Learning enhances the survival of new neurons beyond the time when the hippocampus is required for memory. Journal of Neuroscience. 24:7477-81.
    PMID: 15329394 | PDF Download

  • Mirescu C, Gould E. (2004) From neurotoxin to neurotrophin. Nature Neuroscience. 7:899-900.
    PMID: 15332085 | PDF Download

  • Kozorovitskiy Y, Gould E. (2004) Dominance hierarchy influences adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Journal of Neuroscience 24:6755-9.
    PMID: 15282279 | PDF Download

  • Mirescu C, Peters JD, Gould E. (2004) Early life experience alters response of adult neurogenesis to stress. Nature Neuroscience. 7:841-6.
    PMID: 15273691 | PDF Download

  • Gould E. (2004) Stress, deprivation and adult neurogenesis. In: The Cognitive Neurosciences, Ed: M. Gazzaniga, MIT Press.

  • Kozorovitskiy Y, Gould E. (2003) Stem cell fusion in the brain. Nature Cell Biology. 5:952-4.
    PDF Download

  • Coe CL, Kramer M, Czeh B, Gould E, Reeves AJ, Kirschbaum C, Fuchs E. (2003) Prenatal stress diminishes neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of juvenile rhesus monkeys. Biological Psychiatry 54:1025-34.
    PMID: 14625144 | PDF Download

  • Hastings NB, Gould E. (2003) Neurons inhibit neurogenesis. Nature Medicine. 9:264-6.

  • Shors TJ, Townsend DA, Zhao M, Kozorovitskiy Y, Gould E. (2002) Neurogenesis may relate to some but not all types of hippocampal-dependent learning. Hippocampus. 12:578-84.
    PMID: 12440573 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Gross CG. (2002) Neurogenesis in adult mammals: some progress and problems. Journal of Neuroscience. 22:619-23.
    PMID: 11826089 | PDF Download

  • Hastings NB, Seth MI, Tanapat P, Rydel TA, Gould E. (2002) Granule neurons generated during development extend divergent axon collaterals to hippocampal area CA3. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 452:324-33.
    PMID: 12355416 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Vail N, Wagers M, Gross CG. (2001) Adult-generated hippocampal and neocortical neurons in macaques have a transient existence. PNAS USA. 98:10910-7.
    PMID: 11526209 | PDF Download

  • Tanapat P, Hastings NB, Rydel TA, Galea LA, Gould E. (2001) Exposure to fox odor inhibits cell proliferation in the hippocampus of adult rats via an adrenal hormone-dependent mechanism. Journal of Comparative Neurology 437:496-504.
    PMID: 11503148 | PDF Download

  • Shors TJ, Miesegaes G, Beylin A, Zhao M, Rydel T, Gould E. (2001) Neurogenesis in the adult is involved in the formation of trace memories. Nature 410:372-6.
    PMID: 11268214 | PDF Download

• 1990-1999

  • Hastings NB, Gould E. (1999) Rapid extension of axons into the CA3 region by adult-generated granule cells. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 413:146-54.
    PMID: 10464376 | PDF Download

  • Tanapat P, Hastings NB, Reeves AJ, Gould E. (1999) Estrogen stimulates a transient increase in the number of new neurons in the dentate gyrus of the adult female rat. Journal of Neuroscience. 19:5792-801.
    PMID: 10407020 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Reeves AJ, Fallah M, Tanapat P, Gross CG, Fuchs E. (1999) Hippocampal neurogenesis in adult Old World primates. PNAS USA. 96:5263-7.

  • Gould E, Beylin A, Tanapat P, Reeves A, Shors TJ. (1999) Learning enhances adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal formation. Nature Neuroscience. 2:260-5.
    PMID: 10195219 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Tanapat P, Hastings NB, Shors TJ. (1999) Neurogenesis in adulthood: a possible role in learning. Trends in Cognitive Science. 3:186-192.
    PMID: 10322475 | PDF Download

  • Tanapat P, Galea LA, Gould E. (1998) Stress inhibits the proliferation of granule cell precursors in the developing dentate gyrus. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience. 16:235-9.
    PMID: 9785120 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Tanapat P, McEwen BS, Flugge G, Fuchs E. (1998) Proliferation of granule cell precursors in the dentate gyrus of adult monkeys is diminished by stress. PNAS USA. 95:3168-71.
    PMID: 9501234 | PDF Download

  • Cameron HA, Tanapat P, Gould E. (1998) Adrenal steroids and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activation regulate neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of adult rats through a common pathway. Neuroscience. 82:349-54.
    PMID: 9466447 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Tanapat P, Cameron HA. (1997) Adrenal steroids suppress granule cell death in the developing dentate gyrus through an NMDA receptor-dependent mechanism. Brain Research Developmental Brain Research. 103:91-3.
    PMID: 9370064 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Tanapat P. (1997) Lesion-induced proliferation of neuronal progenitors in the dentate gyrus of the adult rat. Neuroscience. 80:427-36.
    PMID: 9284346 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Tanapat P, McEwen BS. (1997) Activation of the type 2 adrenal steroid receptor can rescue granule cells from death during development. Brain Research Developmental Brain Research. 101:265-8.
    PMID: 9263599 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, McEwen BS, Tanapat P, Galea LA, Fuchs E. (1997) Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the adult tree shrew is regulated by psychosocial stress and NMDA receptor activation. Journal of Neuroscience. 17:2492-8.
    PMID: 9065509 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Cameron HA. (1997) Early NMDA receptor blockade impairs defensive behavior and increases cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of developing rats. Behavioral Neuroscience. 111:49-56.
    PMID: 9109623

  • Cameron HA, Gould E. (1996) Distinct populations of cells in the adult dentate gyrus undergo mitosis or apoptosis in response to adrenalectomy. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 369:56-63.
    PMID: 8723702

  • Gould E, Cameron HA. (1996) Regulation of neuronal birth, migration and death in the rat dentate gyrus. Developmental Neuroscience. 18:22-35.
    PMID: 8840084

  • Cameron HA, McEwen BS, Gould E. (1995) Regulation of adult neurogenesis by excitatory input and NMDA receptor activation in the dentate gyrus. Journal of Neuroscience. 15:4687-92.
    PMID: 7790933 | PDF Download

  • Cameron HA, Gould E. (1994) Adult neurogenesis is regulated by adrenal steroids in the dentate gyrus. Neuroscience. 61:203-9.
    PMID: 7969902 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Cameron HA, McEwen BS. (1994) Blockade of NMDA receptors increases cell death and birth in the developing rat dentate gyrus. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 340:551-65.
    PMID: 7911808

  • Cameron HA, Woolley CS, McEwen BS, Gould E. (1993) Differentiation of newly born neurons and glia in the dentate gyrus of the adult rat. Neuroscience. 56:337-44.
    PMID: 8247264 | PDF Download

  • Cameron HA, Woolley CS, Gould E. (1993) Adrenal steroid receptor immunoreactivity in cells born in the adult rat dentate gyrus. Brain Research. 611:342-6.
    PMID: 8392896 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Cameron HA, Daniels DC, Woolley CS, McEwen BS. (1992) Adrenal hormones suppress cell division in the adult rat dentate gyrus. Journal of Neuroscience. 12:3642-50.
    PMID: 1527603 | PDF Download

  • Watanabe Y, Gould E, McEwen BS. (1992) Stress induces atrophy of apical dendrites of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons. Brain Research. 588:341-5.
    PMID: 1393587 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Woolley CS, Cameron HA, Daniels DC, McEwen BS. (1991) Adrenal steroids regulate postnatal development of the rat dentate gyrus: II. Effects of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids on cell birth. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 313:486-93.
    PMID: 1770172 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Woolley CS, McEwen BS. (1991) Adrenal steroids regulate postnatal development of the rat dentate gyrus: I. Effects of glucocorticoids on cell death. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 313:479-85.
    PMID: 1770171 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Woolley CS, McEwen BS. (1991) Naturally occurring cell death in the developing dentate gyrus of the rat. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 304:408-18.
    PMID: 2022756 | PDF Download

  • Westlind-Danielsson A, Gould E, McEwen BS. (1991) Thyroid hormone causes sexually distinct neurochemical and morphological alterations in rat septal-diagonal band neurons. Journal of Neurochemistry. 56:119-28.
    PMID: 1846170 | PDF Download

  • Woolley CS, Gould E, Frankfurt M, McEwen BS. (1990) Naturally occurring fluctuation in dendritic spine density on adult hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Journal of Neuroscience. 10:4035-9.
    PMID: 2269895 | PDF Download

  • Woolley CS, Gould E, McEwen BS. (1990) Exposure to excess glucocorticoids alters dendritic morphology of adult hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Brain Research. 531(1-2):225-31.
    PMID: 1705153 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Allan MD, McEwen BS. (1990) Dendritic spine density of adult hippocampal pyramidal cells is sensitive to thyroid hormone. Brain Research. 525:327-9.
    PMID: 2253032 | PDF Download

  • Frankfurt M, Gould E, Woolley CS, McEwen BS. (1990) Gonadal steroids modify dendritic spine density in ventromedial hypothalamic neurons: a Golgi study in the adult rat. Neuroendocrinology. 51:530-5.
    PMID: 2112730

  • Gould E, Woolley CS, Frankfurt M, McEwen BS. (1990) Gonadal steroids regulate dendritic spine density in hippocampal pyramidal cells in adulthood. Journal of Neuroscience. 10:1286-91.
    PMID: 2329377 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Westlind-Danielsson A, Frankfurt M, McEwen BS. (1990) Sex differences and thyroid hormone sensitivity of hippocampal pyramidal cells. Journal of Neuroscience. 10:996-1003.
    PMID: 2319308 | PDF Download

  • Gould E, Frankfurt M, Westlind-Danielsson A, McEwen BS. (1990) Developing forebrain astrocytes are sensitive to thyroid hormone. Glia. 3:283-92.
    PMID: 2144508

  • Gould E, Woolley CS, McEwen BS. (1990) Short-term glucocorticoid manipulations affect neuronal morphology and survival in the adult dentate gyrus. Neuroscience. 37:367-75.
    PMID: 2133348 | PDF Download