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PSYC 342 > Class 10 - Stress: Epigenetics, neuroalterations, and mental health > Flashcards

Class 10 - Stress: Epigenetics, neuroalterations, and mental health Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 2 dimensions of childhood adversity?

A

threat and deprivation

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2
Q

In the romanian institutionalization study, what was found about children who remained institutionalized for longer (3)?

A
  • blunted cortisol response to acute stress
  • elevated cortisol throughout the day
  • more synchronicity btw HR and breathing (not good; want to be able to breathe slow when HR high)
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3
Q

The promoter region of a DNA sequence contains _____

A

transcription factor binding sites

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4
Q

What is RNA polymerase? Where does it bind?

A
  • enzyme responsible for synthesizing an RNA molecule from DNA template during transcription
  • binds to promoter region w assistance of transcription factors
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5
Q

more RNA molecules observed is an indication that ___

A

the gene is active (there is gene transcription)

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6
Q

What is the translation phase in genes? Where does it take place?

A
  • RNA sequence produced in transcription is translated to proteins
  • mRNA binds to ribosome which decodes its sequence to produce proteins
  • takes place in cytoplasm (outside nucleus)
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7
Q

Epigenetics is the study of how ___ and ___ can cause changes that affect _____

A

behaviours and the environment can affect the way your genes work

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8
Q

(T/F) epigenetics involves editing of genes

A

FALS, changes expression, not the genes themselves

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9
Q

What are the two most common forms of epigenetic mechanisms?

A

DNA methylation and histone modifications

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10
Q

What are the 2 types of histone modifications?

A
  • acetylation (unfolds DNA; makes more accessible for transcription so increases gene expression)
  • deacetylation (coils DNA; less accessible for transcription so less gene expression)
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11
Q

What are histones?

A
  • proteins that structure DNA
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12
Q

(histone modification/methylation) is a more precise form of epigenetics

A

methylation

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13
Q

Coiled DNA means (increased/decreased) gene expression

A

DECREASED

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14
Q

What is DNA methylation?

A
  • methyl group binds to cytosine (C) in DNA
  • acts as physical barrier preventing binding of transcription factors to promoter region
  • more methylation = less gene expression
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15
Q

What is the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis (DoHaD)?

A
  • environmental exposures during critical periods of prenatal/early postnatal dev can influence long-term health outcomes
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16
Q

What is wrong with the quote from the Time magazine cover: “The new science of epigenetics reveals how the choices you make can change your genes - and those of your kids”

A
  • epigenetics can’t “change” genes, just how they function
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17
Q

(T/F) all methylation is passed on to the child via reproduction (explain!)

A

FALSE, most gets erased during gametogenesis but “imprinting control regions” of genome escape reprogramming and maintain parental methylation patterns

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18
Q

In agouti mice, the agouti gene is always turned (on/off). Methylation of the agouti gene is ass w (activation/deactivation) of agouti gene AND a change in phenotype (fur colour)

A
  • always ON
  • ass w DEACTIVATION of agouti gene
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19
Q

What happens to offspring when a pregnant agouti mouse is fed a diet of methyl supplementation?

A
  • offspring mostly not agouti mice
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20
Q

What was the study that inaugurated the field of neuroscience epigenetics?

A
  • Michael Meany
  • was able to categorize epigenetic programming by maternal behavior (in rats)
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21
Q

What were the findings of Michael Meany’s study on epigenetic programming by maternal behavior?

A
  • maternal care evokes changes in DNA methylation and chromatin structure!!
  • good maternal care increases GR gene expression (helps w negative feedback system of HPA axis)
  • changes could be reversed by cross-fostering to low care mothers!
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22
Q

How can we translate epigenetic findings in humans?

A
  • examine brain post mortem
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23
Q

What did researchers find in the postmortem brains of suicide victims w history of childhood abuse vs no history?

A
  • decreased levels of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA
  • increased methylation of promoter region for GR
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24
Q

How do we know that there is low transcription of glucocorticoid receptors (impeding neg feedback of HPA axis) in live children who are victims of maltreatment?

A
  • looked @ methylation patterns in blood
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25
Q

Prenatal stress alters the (structure/function) of the brain, especially in the ____, ____, and ____

A
  • structure AND function
  • hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex
26
Q

Elevated cortisol during early pregnancy are ass w increased _____ development in the fetus and poor ____ in (girls/boys) before puberty

A
  • increased right amygdalar dev
  • poor emotional dev in GIRLS
27
Q

What enzyme mediates stimulatory effects of tactile contact in facilitating growth and development?

A

ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)

28
Q

(T/F) pups can get ornithine decarboxylase via milk

A

FALSE, need physical contact!

29
Q

What is one implication of the importance of ornithine decarboxylase in growth for human babies?

A
  • practice of stimulating growth and dev in preemies by increasing handling (skin to skin contact)
30
Q

What is psychosocial dwarfism?

A
  • syndrome in infants who experience little/no physical contact
  • compromised growth and development despite adequate nutrition
  • disrupted GH secretion and absence of tissue responsiveness to exogenous GH
31
Q

What is the link between attachment style and stress response?

A
  • secure attachment = more adaptive stress response
  • less cortisol in acute stress and quicker rebalancing
32
Q

What are 3 findings about the benefits of secure attachment in the cortisol response?

A
  • less cortisol after inoculations
  • buffers effects of poverty
  • interventions on parent-child relationship can improve cortisol response
33
Q

attachment security (moderates/mediates) the relationship between _____ and ______

A

moderates; childhood experience and cellular aging

34
Q

IN ANIMALS:
- females have (greater/weaker) basal concentrations of corticosterone
- females secrete (greater/weaker) concentration of corticosterone in response to stressors
- adrenal gland is larger in (males/females)

A
  • females have GREATER basal concentrations of corticosterone
  • females secrete GREATER concentration of corticosterone in response to stressors
  • adrenal gland is larger in FEMALES
35
Q

It seems that sex differences in stress hormones are ______, rather than _____, by hormones

A

activated rather than organized

36
Q

IN HUMANS:
- (men/women) face more stressors
- stress affects attention and cognitive function more in (men/women)
- (men/women) are more likely to experience childhood trauma and suffer higher lvls of childhood stress

A
  • WOMEN face more stressors
  • stress affects attention and cognitive function more in MEN
  • WOMEN are more likely to experience childhood trauma and suffer higher lvls of childhood stress
37
Q

(T/F) stress inhibits testosterone production in men

A

TRUE, leads to reduced sexual motivation and performance

38
Q

In men and women, glucocorticoids at high concentrations can suppress ___ and ___ secretion

A

GnRH and LH

39
Q

How can social status in males impact the role of stress on reproduction?

A
  • dominant males have higher lvls of enzyme that counteracts elevated glucocorticoid concentrations to ensure fertility!
40
Q

What is the effect of exercise on stress in males?

A
  • moderate exercise increases T
  • mild exercise counteracts effects of stress
  • excessive exercise acts as stress and causes sustained glucocorticoid secretion leading to low T conc
41
Q

How does stress lead to erectile dysfunction?

A
  • stress makes it difficult to establish parasympathetic activity in the penis (bc of stress-induced high sympathetic output)
  • need parasympathetic activation for erection, sympathetic should only come online during ejaculation
42
Q

What are 2 potential hormonal consequences for women who are very stressed or exercise excessively?

A
  • amenorrhea
  • less frequent LH pulses
43
Q

How can fasting act as a stressor?

A
  • increases blood glucocorticoid conc
44
Q

What is hyperandrogenism?

A
  • mechanism of reproductive impairment in females
  • caused by overactive adrenal cortices and androgens
  • increased androgen conc disrupts negative feedback mechanisms of GnRH and gonadotropins
  • can cause acne, male pattern balding, abnormal hair growth, virilization
45
Q

What is the function of the hippocampus in the stress response? How is it altered by chronic stress?

A
  • helps shut off stress response (inhibits HPA axis)
  • structural changes: fewer connections, smaller volume
  • functional changes: diff w memory, learning
46
Q

What is the function of the prefrontal cortex in the stress response? How is it altered by chronic stress?

A
  • helps shut off stress response (inhibits HPA axis)
  • structural changes: fewer/altered connections
  • functional changes: difficulty regulating thoughts, emotions, behaviour
47
Q

What is the function of the amygdala in the stress response? How is it altered by chronic stress?

A
  • turns on stress hormones and increases HR
  • structural changes: altered connections and volume
  • functional changes: hyperreactive stress response
48
Q

Affective disorders are often characterized in terms of a ___

A

continuum

49
Q

How is the HPA axis affected in depression?

A
  • negative feedback system impaired
  • higher blood conc of cortisol!
50
Q

What is the link between depression and thyroid hormones?

A
  • depressed ppl have low thyroid function
  • treatment of depression w thyroid hormone supplementation is only effective in patients w hypothyroidism
51
Q

What is the link between depression and estradiol?

A
  • women w past perimenopausal depression show improvement in depression symptoms when treated w estradiol
52
Q

What 3 hormonal/neurological changes are associated with PTSD?

A
  • disregulation of HPA axis (blunted stress resp)
  • reduced hippocampal volume
  • deficits in short-term memory
53
Q

How does SAD affect hormones?

A
  • cyclic disruptions in serotonin-carbohydrate regulating mechanisms
  • display more serotonin transporter activity in fall/winter which leads to less available serotonin in synaptic cleft
54
Q

How are carbohydrates linked to hormones?

A
  • tryptophan is converted to serotonin in brain
  • when we eat carbs, pancreas secretes insulin which facilitates uptake of sugars and non-tryptophan amino acids to peripheral cells
  • leads to higher tryptophan in blood which means more tryptophan crosses blood brain barrier leadings to higher production of serotonin
  • serotonin ass w decrease in appetite
55
Q

What is the best treatment for SAD?

A
  • light treatment to try to change circadian rhythms
  • only works in conjunction w dietary adjustments
  • exposure should be a few hours in the morning
56
Q

What are 6 possible physical problems of anabolic steroid use in MEN?

A
  • baldness
  • headaches
  • dev of breasts
  • enlarged prostate
  • reduced sperm count
  • shrinkage of testicles
57
Q

What are 5 possible physical problems of anabolic steroid use in WOMEN?

A
  • increase in facial and body hair
  • deepened voice
  • reduced breast size
  • menstrual problems
  • enlarged clitoris
58
Q

What psychiatric symptom is common among abusers of androgens?

A

mania or hypomania

59
Q

What are 12 physical problems ass w anabolic steroid use in both men and women?

  • 2 behavior/mood
  • 1 skin
  • 1 heart
  • 1 liver
  • 3 tummy
  • 1 sexual organs
  • 1 circulation
  • 2 movement/body
A
  • aggressive behavior
  • mood swings
  • severe acne
  • high BP and heart disease
  • liver damage
  • nausea
  • bloating
  • urinary and bowel problems
  • sexual dysfunction and infertility
  • strokes and blood clots
  • aching joints
  • increased risk of tendon injuries
60
Q

What are 4 psychological variables that modulate stress physiology?

A
  • control
  • predictability
  • outlets for frustration
  • habituation
61
Q
A

PSYC 342 (11 decks)

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