However, the young SCA1 mice evinced normal corticosterone levels and the CA-SRLM volume was not associated with behavioral deficits, despite the high sensitivity of CA to increased levels of corticosterone44,50, thus suggesting that increased stress does not mediate hippocampal atrophy and its direct link to the abnormal behavior of the SCA1 mice. Here, ATXN1 is linked to hippocampal atrophy.