Epigenetic processes can explain some of the epidemiological associations between environmental exposure and disease, particularly when the exposure occurs at a critical delopmental stage.Epigenetics, a cellular mechanism once considered to be stable after development, has now been found to be a dynamic process that occurs in fully differentiated, post-mitotic cells of central nervous system in response to environmental signals. Epigenetic mechanisms regulate the structure of the chromatin through post-translational modifications of histone proteins and covalent DNA modifications. Though the mechanisms through which these effects are achieved likely involve diverse cellular and molecular pathways, there is emerging evidence supporting the hypothesis that epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, may mediate the effects of early-life variations in the social interactions between mothers and infants.

Preface

1. Post-translational histone modifications and the neurobiology of psychosis
2. Epigenetic regulation of GABAergic targets in psychiatry
3. Possible roles of DNA methylation in bipolar disorder
4. The epigenetics of depression and suicide
5. Epidemiology research and epigenetics: Translational epidemiology of schizophrenia
6. Environmental studies as a tool for detecting epigenetic mechanisms in schizophrenia
7. Imprinting, inactivation and the behavioural genetics of the X-chromosome
8. The strategies of the genes: genomic conflicts, attachment theory and development of the social brain
9. Genomic imprinting effects on brain and behavior; future directions
10. Epigenetic influence of the social environment
11. Towards an understanding of the dynamic inter-dependence of genes and environment in the regulation of phenotype. Nurturing our epigenetic nature
12. Histone deacetylase inhibitors: a novel therapeutic approach for cognitive disorders
13. Epigenetic mechanisms of memory consolidation
14. Epigenetic mechanisms in memory formation
Subject index.