Early life neglect has been shown to disrupt the translation of
myelin-related genes in a mouse model of childhood neglect [18].
Additionally, early traumatic experiences including neglect, physical
abuse, sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychiatric
illness, have been shown to be significantly associated with a decrease
in the size of the highly myelinated corpus callosum [19]. Considering
the role of NgR signaling in myelin-related processes it could be speculated
that these pathways may also be playing a role in the neurobiological
processes occurring during childhood, the critical period of brain
development. Furthermore due to adolescence also being a critical
period for the development of schizophrenia and the known implications
of NgR signaling in schizophrenia, we hypothesized that NgR
signaling may play an underlying role in the implication of childhood
maltreatment with incidence of psychiatric disorders including
schizophrenia.