Chapter 4.1 Flashcards
Neurofibromatosis
inherited in an autosomal dominant manner
○ Benign Schwann Cells tumors
○ Discoloration of skin
○ Can cause serious problems
○ Disease manifestation vary, even within a family
Polydactylism:
dominant over normal condition
○ 1/1000 births
○ Some cases, trait is not expressed (turned off) or shows only on one hand
○ Possibly affected by diet, development, other genes
Evolution of Behavior:
● Change in gene pool over generations in a population
● Change through mutations, recombinations, deletions
○ New genes must be reproduced, “fitness” is reproductive success
● still a theory!
○ Science has no laws, no proofs, but theories
○ Theories are tested over and over, are reproducible and refutable
Evolution of Behavior:
● Evolution is the most tested theory in life sciences
● We did not evolve from monkeys– we have a common ancestor with all animals
● Darwin demonstrated “natural selection,” the mechanism for evolution, did not
come up with the idea of evolution
● Evolution does not include the the process of the origin of life
○ It is about the origin of species after life started
Evolution of Behavior:
● Evolution sometimes means improvement, but the improvements may not always
be advantageous
● DNA evidence is the main driver of evolutionary explanation, even over fossil
evidence
○ Evolutionary history is written into our genome
● Evolution acts to spread the gene, not to benefit the individual or the species
○ You don’t carry your genes around, genes carry you around
Developmental Biopsychology:
● CNS forms when embryo around 2 weeks old
○ Brain activity around 6 weeks
● As neonate, brain weighs 350g
○ 100 billion neurons are birth
○ Few synapses and glia
○ Have max synapses as toddler
● At 9 months cortex developed enough for object permanence
● At 1 year brain weighs 1,000 grams
Proliferation
cells in ventricles divide
○ Some stay as stem cells in same area
○ Some become neurons and glia, moving to new destination
○ Produce way more cells than you need in utero, causing need for these
extra cells to be destroyed
■ Many cells will die, which is a good thing
■ Most excess neurons are shed before birth
Differentiation
axons and dendrites form
○ Migration: radial glia assists in sending neurons to the correct location
Myelination
○ Continues into early-mid 20s, possibly longer
○ Last part to “solidify” in human
Synaptogenesis
continues throughout life
Survival of Neuron Requires 2 conditions
● Sending neuron forms synapse with target cell, which obtains NGF from target
cell
○ NGF= neurotrophin, protein that induces survival
Survival of Neuron Requires 2 conditions
● Sending neuron release NTs
○ Apoptosis: programed cell death
○ Self-destruction is canceled by NGF
○ Important for development, but also in adults
■ Cancer is form of apoptosis dysfunction
Brain structure is related to way of life
○ Ex: monkeys swing through trees (more motor cortex for their forearms)
○ Rats have cortical material devoted to each whisker
○ Practice will increase connections
Focal hand dystonia
caused by over practicing in certain populations
■ Brain material devoted to each finger overlaps and lose individual control
over fingers, causing intense cramps when attempting to move fingers
■ Frequently occurs in musicians such as pianist
■ Can receive therapy to correct, but will never fully recover back to original
quality of play
