Posted in BDNF, MECP2, tagged Anxiety, Art, autism, Cognition, cognitive development, Development, Epigenetics, Gene, Gene expression, MECP2, meme-art, Rett Syndrome, schizophrenia, Stress, synaptogenesis, Transcription on December 16, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Some quick sketches that might help put the fast-growing epigenetics and cognitive development literature into context. Visit the University of Utah’s Epigenetics training site for more background!
The genome is just the A,G,T,C bases that encode proteins and other mRNA molecules. The “epi”genome are various modification to the DNA – such as methylation (at C residues) [...]
Posted in Hippocampus, Hypothalamus, NRXB1, tagged Brain, Bruce McEwen, Chemical synapse, Development, DNA, DNA methylation, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Health, Neural development, Rett Syndrome, Rockefeller University, Stress, synapse, synaptic plasticity on December 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
We are all familiar with the notion that genes are NOT destiny and that the development of an individual’s mind and body occur in a manner that is sensitive to the environment (e.g. children who eat lots of healthy food grow bigger and stronger than those who have little or no access to food). In [...]
Posted in DYRK1A, KCNJ6, tagged Chromosome, Development, Down syndrome, Genetics, Hippocampus, Karyotype, Mental disorder, Mental health, mouse-model, Neurological Disorders, Prenatal, synaptogenesis, Trisomy 21 on December 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The human brain is renown for its complexity. Indeed, while we often marvel at the mature brain in its splendid form and capability, its even more staggering to consider how to build such a powerful computing machine. Admittedly, mother nature has been working on this for a long time – perhaps since the first neuronal [...]
Posted in BDNF, tagged BDNF, Biology, CREB, Development, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Genetics, Michael Merzenich, Neuron, Rett Syndrome on October 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
According to Joseph LeDoux, “One of the most important contributions of modern neuroscience has been to show that the nature/nurture debate operates around a false dichotomy: the assumption that biology, on one hand, and lived experience, on the other, affect us in fundamentally different ways” (ref). Indeed. While I know not where the current debate [...]
Posted in MECP2, tagged Development, economics, Epigenetics, Genetic Disorders, Genetic testing, Mental disorder, Mental health, Podcast, Rett Syndrome on October 1, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
It was a delight today to chat with Monica Coenraads, Executive Director of the Rett Syndrome Research Trust. The RSRT has teamed up with a deeply focused world-class team of research scientists to translate the fruits of basic research on Rett syndrome into viable cures. Whether you are a scientist, student or concerned family member, [...]
Posted in MECP2, tagged autism, Development, Epigenetics, Gene, Gene expression, Long-Term Potentiation, MECP2, Mental disorder, Mental health, Mental retardation, Neural network, Neuron, Rett Syndrome on September 30, 2009 | 1 Comment »
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In previous posts, we have explored some of the basic molecular (de-repression of chromatin structure) and cellular (excess synaptogenesis) consequences of mutations in the MeCP2 gene – a.k.a the gene whose loss of function gives rise to Rett syndrome. One of the more difficult aspects of understanding how a mutation in a lowly [...]
Posted in MECP2, White matter, tagged Ari Gold, autism, Development, Glial cell, MECP2, Mental disorder, Neural development, Neuron, Rett Syndrome, White matter on September 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Celebrities and politicians are known for their love of the spotlight. “Me, me, me!” are the words to get ahead by in our modern media circus. As well, it can even be – in the unglamorous world of science – where, in characteristically geeky form, the conventional wisdom is to shout, “my hypothesis, my [...]
Posted in HDACs, MECP2, tagged autism, Autism spectrum, Development, DNA, DNA methylation, Epigenetics, Gene, Gene expression, HDAC, Mental disorder, Mental health, Mutation, Rett Syndrome on September 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
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The cognitive and emotional impairments in the autism spectrum disorders can be difficult for parents and siblings to understand and cope with. Here are some graphics and videos that might assist in understanding how genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications can lead to various forms of social withdrawl commonly observed in the autism spectrum [...]
Posted in HDACs, tagged autism, Biology, Development, DNA, Epigenetics, Gene, Gene expression, Genetics, Mental disorder, Mouse, Natural selection, Neural network, Rett Syndrome on September 21, 2009 | 2 Comments »
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The homunculus (argument) is a pesky problem in cognitive science – a little guy who might suddenly appear when you propose a mechanism for decision making, spontaneous action or forethought etc. – and would take credit for the origination of the neural impulse. While there are many mechanistic models of decision [...]
Posted in KCNH2, tagged 23andMe, Action potential, Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, Frontal lobe, Gene, Gene expression, Hippocampus, Neuron, schizophrenia, Single-nucleotide polymorphism on August 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
**PODCAST accompanies this post** In the brain, as in other aspects of life, timing is everything. On an intuitive level, its pretty clear, that, since neurons have to work together in widely distributed networks, they have a lot of incentive to talk to each other in a rhythmic, organized way. Think of a choir that [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on August 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
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Just getting this effort underway. Presently just a few podcasts hosted by Liberated Syndication. Here are links to the posts that point to the interviews. Here is the DIRECT LINK to the main podcast page.
1. Michael Corbin – EveryMinute.org – suicide awareness and prevention
2. Dr. Michael Frank – Brown University – genetics and [...]
Posted in ADRA2A, Locus coeruleus, Noradrenaline, SLITRK1, tagged ADRA2A, Development, medication, Mental disorder, Noradrenaline, SLITRK1 on January 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
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A recent report by Katayama and colleagues [doi 10.1038/mp.2008.97] shows that the the gene slitrk1 – a known risk factor for the developmental disorders Tourette’s syndrome and trichotillomania gives rise to increased levels of noradrenaline when the gene is inactivated in a developing mouse model. In the U. S., the most frequently prescribed [...]
