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Research interestThe central nervous system undergoes dramatic growth during early postnatal development, which is characterized by the elaboration of neural connections and shaping of circuits. During this critical period, the neocortex and the hippocampus are extremely sensitive to adverse environmental factors. Early-life stress, a well-characterized risk factor for psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety-related disorders, may exert profound and persistent negative influences on the development, plasticity and function of the neocortex and hippocampus. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. By using early-life stress paradigm(s) and applying morphological, behavioral, molecular, and pharmacological approaches, we aim to investigate the effects of early-life stress on the neocortex and hippocampus and learning and memory. Moreover, the involvement of key stress mediators (glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid receptors as well as corticotropin-releasing hormone and its receptors) and synaptic molecules will be studied.