Neurobiopsychology Flashcards
define phenotype
observable characteristic that results from an organisms’ gene/s and the environment
gene x environment interactions
- biological parents pass on genotypes to their child, and provide home environments that correlate with the genotype
- association between home environment and child’s temperament can be genetically or environmentally mediated
- family environment may suppress or facilitate the heritability of children’s temperament
types of gene x environment interactions
Passive gene environment: environment correlates with the child’s genes (musical parents providing a musical environment for their child)
Evocative gene environment: parent creates an environment to cultivate a natural disposition / skill toward something
Active gene environment correlations: the child takes it upon themselves to actively engage in an environment that fosters a skill
epigenetics
- genetic transcription is influenced by environmental factors
–> turning off or on genes
–> young brains are particularly susceptible due to neuroplasticity - influenced by environmental forces (diet, drugs, etc)
Diathesis-stress model (genetic environmental interplay)
Vulnerability-stress model
- explains a disorder as the result of an interaction between predisposition vulnerability and stress caused by life experiences
- i.e. the environment activates a stress response in a person who is predispositioned to have a stress response
What is a nativist?
Genetic - innate - heritability
What is a nurturist?
Learning - environment
Intervention - where nurture is considered more impactful
Early parenting and social interventions effective in younger children
Intervention - when nature is more impactful
- use of medication
- belief there’s not much you can do
- incarceration lol
What is the FOAD
Fetal origins of adult disease
Adverse intrauterine environmental exposures affect a fetus’ development during sensitive periods, increasing the risk of specific diseases in adult life.
- i.e. adverse prenatal nutrition increased susceptability to metabolic syndrome later
- high maternal cortisol levels in utero can increase high stress response
Fetal programing through the HPA axis
but optimal caregiving can attenuate the negative effects of fetal programming of stress response - support parents to provide appropriate caregiving responses so we can attenuate this
What are the mechanisms behind FOAD?
- Cumulative stress model (disease focused approach): developmental exposures cumulatively add up to cause disruptions of brain structure
- Match-mismatch Model (evolutionary developmental approach): developing fetus adapts its physiology in anticipation of the postnatal environment, as a result of prenatal cuing –> mismatch occurs when those early environmental cues do not match the adult conditions
DoHaD
Environmental stresses during the early stages of life influence health and the risk of developing non-communicable diseases throughout the lifespan of an individual.
- all aspects of environment (nutrition, environmental pollutants, stress)
- all windows of sensitivity: (preconception, pregnancy, early childhood
What is the BioPyschoSocial model of health?
Considers the biological, psychological and social factors contributing to a condition, and interactions between them.
Which phase of development is most impactful/has the most risk
Embryonic period is most impactful on post-natal development
time of maximum risk due to high exposure to teratogens
What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Used as an Umbrella Term to encompass diagnostic categories of:
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder
- Alcohol-Related Birth Defects
When alcohol is consumed during pregnancy, it passes through the placenta and enters the bloodstream of unborn babies.
Leading form of non-genetic developmental disability in Australia.
Increased risk of FASD with increased duration of prenatal alcohol exposure
