We have proposed that the expression of PSA in nervous system regions that process inputs from chronic insults, such as pain and stress, provides in effect a "circuit breaker" that limits damage caused by these inputs. This work focuses in the dorsal spinal column, known to undergo structural plasticity in response to pain, and the hippocampus/amygdala system that responds to stress. Present studies are attempting to show that in these systems, PSDA is promoting the temporary disengagement of synaptic connections.
