Q3 Environment/ Genetics and Learning

Stress is affecting social behaviourlearning and memory

Early experiences are affecting latersocial behaviour / stress / hormones / appearance

Article Study

Article Methodology

Experimental Set.Up:Independet Variable: Enriched envrionment in mothers Dependent Variable: Memory function of their offspring

1. Genetic Manipulation: Built in Defect of Memory of future mothers

2. Exposing them to enriched envrionment

3. Offspring with same genetic defect:

4. Offspring: No enriched environment is provided

5: Memory is enhanced in spite of genetic defect

Conclusions

1. As previously shown: Enriched environment during infancy can improve genetic defects

2. Mothers aquired improvements affects childrens DND

"An otherwise latent control mechanism is unlocked" by which LTP is enhanced

3. Evidence for Epigenetics: Environmentally in infancy can even change the DNA

4. Effect is not long lasting

Article Studiy vs. Book Study: 51-4 Maternal behviour in Rats

Compared Article Methodology

Same

Compared Article Conclusion

Same, but additionally infacny Environment (of Mothers) can not only change behaviour, but even DNA

Book (rats) Methodology

1.Experimental Set-UpIndependent Variable: Nursing Behaviour of MothersDependent Variable: Open field Behaviour of children

2. Experimenta Set upIndependent Variable: High-Low nursing environmenDependent Variable: High Low later maternal behaviour

Book Conclusions

1.Maternal behaviour towards children (no matter if foster or not) determines open field behaviour

2. Environment during infancy primary determinant of open field behaviour

3. Conclusions of 2nd eperiment: Maternal Benhaviour runs in families but is not genetically determined

Article Study vs.Book Study 78-80: Antisocial behaviour

Article Methodology

Differnt: Experimental vs. Correlational Study

Article Conclusions

Similar: Genetics determine aggessive behaviour only in few cases

Book Methodology

Long Term Study analysing the relationship between genetic factors, childhood environmant and and an index of antisocial behaviour:Independent Factor 1: Mutant MOAP alleleFactor 2: no abuse, mild abuse, strong abuseDependent variable: agresive behaviourHypothesis: Greater correlation between MAOP+childhood abuse and violent behaviourcompared to No MOAP +childhood abuse / MOAP+ No child abuse

Book Conclusions

1.a) Genes themselves do not cause anitsocial behaviour

1.b) Severe chilhood abuse (Environment) affects antisocial behaviour

1.c) Genetics affect adult violence significanly more in cases of strong infant abuse (Environment)

Overall Conclusion: Purely genetic determinatio of Behaviour is rareIt may be that Environment even changes DNA.As for many diseases (like Alzheimer) or behaviours (violenc, open field) a specific gene is only causal for a small percentageof occurences for other it might be environmental (risk) factors causing the behaviour.Perhaps even changing the DNA??Pehaps It could be that complex behaviour is the to a lesser degree determined by a single gene.

Overall some behviour is gentically influence

Strong Genetics determination over environment

Narcolepsy: Book 1 2.3.5

Huntington's Disease Book 1 1.1.3

Weaker Genetic Determination over environment

MOAP and Child abuse Study

Much behaviour is determined by environment

Environmen over Genetics

1. Nursing Behaviour StudyEnvironment is determinant

2. Enriched Environmen StudyEnvironment even changes DNA

Behaviour is familial but environmentally not genetically determined