Genetic Influences on Neural and Behavioral Functions

Genetic Influences on Neural and Behavioral Functions PDF Author: Donald W. Pfaff
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 9781420048223
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 510

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Book Description
Utilizing the flood of information derived from the Human Genome Project and corresponding efforts to elucidate the mouse genome, Genetic Influences on Neural and Behavioral Functions provides a scholarly catalog, organized logically, of relations between the expression of specific genes, nerve cell biology and behavior, normal and abnormal, in animals AND humans. Sample topics include genes in relation to schiziphrenia, panic disorder, epilepsy, alcoholism, sleep, eating disorders, and more.

Brains, Genes, and the Foundations of Human Society

Brains, Genes, and the Foundations of Human Society PDF Author: Jordan Grafman
Publisher: Frontiers E-books
ISBN: 2889191257
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 114

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Book Description
The last 20 years have yielded an explosion of information from the still nascent field of social neuroscience. Studies devoted to identifying neural correlates of social cognitive and moral judgment processing have established subcortical and cortical regions that are integral for how we filter and interpret information pertinent to family and friends, our social in-group, and strangers and engage in everything from forming immediate impressions of them to judging their behavior with respect to complex moral norms. What is less clear is how neural regions involved in implicit and explicit cognitive processing, or those cognitive processes that occur almost instantaneously as opposed to those that are more controlled respectively, interact to bias perceptions and behavior. Even less is known about how genes (and their variants) critical for neural function and the structural integrity within neural regions may modulate neural interactions critical for social cognitive and moral judgment processing. Recent methodological advancements assessing how different neural regions functionally work together with others, and how different genetic variants integral for neural function alter behavior, are establishing a more comprehensive view of the implicit and explicit social brain. These advancements demonstrate that structures critical for implicit processing, e.g., the amygdala, reliably covary in their activity with structures integral for explicit processing, e.g., dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, early and often during the processing of social information of varying complexity and in different contexts. This suggests that interactions between these regions are necessary to successfully navigate and immediately adapt to one’s environment. In turn, genetic variants like those that comprise the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, oxytocin receptor gene, or serotonin transporter gene likely play an important role in modulating the interaction between and within neural regions integral for interpersonal trust, intergroup processes, person perception, theory of mind (i.e., inferring the thoughts and feelings of others), and moral judgment processing. The purpose of this Research Topic is to further our understanding of how subcortical and cortical neural regions that vary in their functional contributions to social behavior also depend upon genetic influences in shaping individuals’ perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and how information is attended to and encoded to influence future social behaviors. It is particularly important to demonstrate how these regions reliably interact as a function of processing speed (i.e., implicit or explicit) and/or context to predict behavior or performance. Demonstrating how different genetic factors in turn moderate this interaction, or how genetic factors alter a specific region’s interaction with other regions, is equally important. We therefore solicit original empirical work, review and opinion papers, and methodological papers that can promote our understanding of how interactions between neural regions underlying implicit and explicit processes influence social cognitive and moral judgment processing and are, in turn, modulated by genetic predispositions. This includes work that utilizes fMRI, EEG and psychophysiological methodologies, lesion samples, as well as developmental and computational approaches. This Research Topic could serve as an important step in the evolution of our understanding of the complexity of the social mind as well as illuminate the robust effects context has on the way the brain interacts with different stimuli at every level of cognitive processing.

Translational Research in Traumatic Brain Injury

Translational Research in Traumatic Brain Injury PDF Author: Daniel Laskowitz
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1498766579
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 412

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Book Description
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a significant source of death and permanent disability, contributing to nearly one-third of all injury related deaths in the United States and exacting a profound personal and economic toll. Despite the increased resources that have recently been brought to bear to improve our understanding of TBI, the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches has been disappointingly slow. Translational Research in Traumatic Brain Injury attempts to integrate expertise from across specialties to address knowledge gaps in the field of TBI. Its chapters cover a wide scope of TBI research in five broad areas: Epidemiology Pathophysiology Diagnosis Current treatment strategies and sequelae Future therapies Specific topics discussed include the societal impact of TBI in both the civilian and military populations, neurobiology and molecular mechanisms of axonal and neuronal injury, biomarkers of traumatic brain injury and their relationship to pathology, neuroplasticity after TBI, neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapy, advanced neuroimaging of mild TBI, neurocognitive and psychiatric symptoms following mild TBI, sports-related TBI, epilepsy and PTSD following TBI, and more. The book integrates the perspectives of experts across disciplines to assist in the translation of new ideas to clinical practice and ultimately to improve the care of the brain injured patient.

Genes, Brain Function, and Behavior

Genes, Brain Function, and Behavior PDF Author: Douglas Wahlsten
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128128321
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 300

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Book Description
Genes, Brain Function, and Behavior offers a concise description of the nervous system that processes sensory input and initiates motor movements. It reviews how behaviors are defined and measured, and how experts decide when a behavior is perturbed and in need of treatment. Behavioral disorders that are clearly related to a defect in a specific gene are reviewed, and the challenges of understanding complex traits such as intelligence, autism and schizophrenia that involve numerous genes and environmental factors are explored. New methods of altering genes offer hope for treating or even preventing difficulties that arise in our genes. This book explains what genes are, what they do in the nervous system, and how this impacts both brain function and behavior. Presents essential background, facts, and terminology about genes, brain function, and behavior Builds clear explanations on this solid foundation while minimizing technical jargon Explores in depth several single-gene and chromosomal neurological disorders Derives lessons from these clear examples and highlights key lessons in boxes Examines the intricacies of complex traits that involve multiple genetic and environmental factors by applying lessons from simpler disorders Explains diagnosis and definition Includes a companion website with Powerpoint slides and images for each chapter for instructors and links to resources

How Genes Influence Behavior 2e

How Genes Influence Behavior 2e PDF Author: Jonathan Flint
Publisher:
ISBN: 0198716877
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 387

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Book Description
How Genes Influence Behavior takes a personal and lively approach to the study of behavioral genetics, providing an up-to-date and accessible introduction to a variety of approaches and their application to a wide range of disorders, and modeling a critical approach to both methods andresults.This second edition includes additional biology content to help students understand the biological foundations of the field, while maintaining an appropriate focus on the main issues of relevance to psychology students; updates coverage of genomic technologies and their applications; and covers awider range of disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders, and intellectual disability. A new final chapter guides students through a range of quantitative approaches using worked examples that relate directly to cases and examples used earlier in the text, and addresses currentissues arising from debates around reproducibility.The online resources that accompany this book include:For students* Multiple choice questions for students to check their threshold knowledge* Data sets for students to manipulate, so that they can apply what they have learnedFor lecturers* Figures and tables from the book, ready to download

Genes, Behavior, and the Social Environment

Genes, Behavior, and the Social Environment PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309101964
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 385

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Book Description
Over the past century, we have made great strides in reducing rates of disease and enhancing people's general health. Public health measures such as sanitation, improved hygiene, and vaccines; reduced hazards in the workplace; new drugs and clinical procedures; and, more recently, a growing understanding of the human genome have each played a role in extending the duration and raising the quality of human life. But research conducted over the past few decades shows us that this progress, much of which was based on investigating one causative factor at a time—often, through a single discipline or by a narrow range of practitioners—can only go so far. Genes, Behavior, and the Social Environment examines a number of well-described gene-environment interactions, reviews the state of the science in researching such interactions, and recommends priorities not only for research itself but also for its workforce, resource, and infrastructural needs.

From Neurons to Neighborhoods

From Neurons to Neighborhoods PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309069882
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 610

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Book Description
How we raise young children is one of today's most highly personalized and sharply politicized issues, in part because each of us can claim some level of "expertise." The debate has intensified as discoveries about our development-in the womb and in the first months and years-have reached the popular media. How can we use our burgeoning knowledge to assure the well-being of all young children, for their own sake as well as for the sake of our nation? Drawing from new findings, this book presents important conclusions about nature-versus-nurture, the impact of being born into a working family, the effect of politics on programs for children, the costs and benefits of intervention, and other issues. The committee issues a series of challenges to decision makers regarding the quality of child care, issues of racial and ethnic diversity, the integration of children's cognitive and emotional development, and more. Authoritative yet accessible, From Neurons to Neighborhoods presents the evidence about "brain wiring" and how kids learn to speak, think, and regulate their behavior. It examines the effect of the climate-family, child care, community-within which the child grows.

From Molecules to Minds

From Molecules to Minds PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309120926
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 90

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Book Description
Neuroscience has made phenomenal advances over the past 50 years and the pace of discovery continues to accelerate. On June 25, 2008, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders hosted more than 70 of the leading neuroscientists in the world, for a workshop titled "From Molecules to Minds: Challenges for the 21st Century." The objective of the workshop was to explore a set of common goals or "Grand Challenges" posed by participants that could inspire and rally both the scientific community and the public to consider the possibilities for neuroscience in the 21st century. The progress of the past in combination with new tools and techniques, such as neuroimaging and molecular biology, has positioned neuroscience on the cusp of even greater transformational progress in our understanding of the brain and how its inner workings result in mental activity. This workshop summary highlights the important issues and challenges facing the field of neuroscience as presented to those in attendance at the workshop, as well as the subsequent discussion that resulted. As a result, three overarching Grand Challenges emerged: How does the brain work and produce mental activity? How does physical activity in the brain give rise to thought, emotion, and behavior? How does the interplay of biology and experience shape our brains and make us who we are today? How do we keep our brains healthy? How do we protect, restore, or enhance the functioning of our brains as we age?

Our Genes, Our Choices

Our Genes, Our Choices PDF Author: David Goldman
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0443221626
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 328

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Book Description
Our Genes, Our Choices: How Genotype and Gene Interactions Affect Behavior, Second Edition explains how the complexity of human behavior, including concepts of free will, derives from a relatively small number of genes, which direct neurodevelopmental sequences. Are people free to make choices, or do genes determine behavior? Paradoxically, the answer to both questions is "yes," because of neurogenetic individuality, a new theory with profound implications. Here, author David Goldman uses judicial, political, medical, and ethical examples to illustrate that this lifelong process is guided by individual genotype, molecular and physiologic principles, as well as by randomness and environmental exposures, a combination of factors that we choose and do not choose. Written in an authoritative yet accessible style, the book includes practical descriptions of the function of DNA, discusses the scientific and historical bases of genethics, and introduces the topics of epigenetics and the predictive power of behavioral genetics. In the decade since the first edition published, knowledge of genetic influences on the neurogenetic underpinnings of behavior has been transformed by genomic technologies. Genome-Wide Association studies, for example, have revealed that hundreds of genes influence vulnerability to psychiatric disease and innate predisposition to risk-taking behaviors. This new edition has been thoroughly revised to focus on free will and its neurogenetic origins. In addition, the use of polygenic scores for behavioral prediction are discussed in-depth, reflecting the GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Study) revolution and combined use of genetic predictors in polygenic scores. Sections on epigenetics are also substantially expanded throughout, better defined, and tied to neuroplasticity and gene-environment interaction. Figures and illustrations have been added or improved throughout, and disease nosology and terminology has been updated. Updates on the previous edition which was the First Prize winner of the 2013 BMA Medical Book Award for Basic and Clinical Sciences Poses and resolves challenges to moral responsibility raised by modern genetics and neuroscience Analyzes the neurogenetic origins of human behavior and free will Features expanded sections on the neurogenetic basis of free will, polygenic risk scores, and epigenetic influence over behavior, as well as improved figures and updated terminology

Behavioral and Neural Genetics of Zebrafish

Behavioral and Neural Genetics of Zebrafish PDF Author: Robert T. Gerlai
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 9780128175286
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 800

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Book Description
The past decade has seen a rapid accumulation of knowledge on the behavioral characteristics of zebrafish, and increased investigation into the neurobiological basis of behavior using zebrafish. This simple vertebrate represents an ideal compromise between system complexity and practical simplicity, with its mammalian sequence homology, fecundity, and conveniently small size and transparent embryology. Behavioral and Neural Genetics of Zebrafish assembles state of the art methodologies and the most current concepts pertinent to the neurobehavioral genetics of zebrafish. Discussing its natural behavior, motor function, and learning and memory, it focuses on the fry and adult zebrafish and features a comprehensive account of modern genetic and neural methods adapted to or specifically developed for Danio rerio. Numerous examples of how these behavioral methods may be utilized for disease models using the zebrafish will be presented, as well as a section on bioinformatics and "big-data" related questions. Focusing on this excellent translational tool, this book examines a species with which investigators may model and analyze even such complex human diseases as those associated with brain dysfunction. Provides the most comprehensive snapshot of the fast-evolving zebrafish neurobehavior genetics field Describes description of behavioral, genetic, and neural methods and concepts and adult and larval zebrafish Features examples of zebrafish models of human central nervous system disorders Discusses bioinformatics questions pertinent to zebrafish neurobehavioral genetics