Summary: Liu et al. (2012)

Prolonged social isolation results in stress, particularly in group-living species. Isolation stress, particularly during the early developmental period, may then have a profound influence on cognitive and endocrine function, as well as behaviour. Liu et al. (2012) found that prolonged social isolation also influenced transcriptional and structural alterations to neurons in the prefontal cortex. They also found that re-integration with the social group normalized transciptional and behavioural changes. In addition, they noted that shorter periods of isolation did not induce behavioural change, but did influence structure of chromatin and myelin. Liu et al. (2012) suggest that the alteration of myelination in response to social interactions could be a form of phenotypic plasticity in adults.