When viewing the observation of increased IGF-1, and a tendency for increased BDNF, in piglets after a brief exposure to EE alongside previous rodent and human studies of increased IGF-1 correlating with learning, mood and recovery from brain injury, it would suggest that in pigs short-term exposure to EE results in: 1) increased positive affect; 2) increases in synaptogenesis and plasticity, with concomitant beneficial effects on learning, memory and cognitive development and 3) increases in neuroprotection with prolonged positive effects on ‘brain health’. Here, IGF1 is linked to brain injury.