NEUROSCI 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Thrifty Phenotype, Binocular Vision, Birth Weight
17 May 2016
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Document Summary
Binocular vision, emotional control, language, symbols) occur during first 1-3 years of life. Perinatal programming - early experience can have a profound effect on developing organism different long-term outcomes for brain and behavior. Difference in external stimuli alter the end product. Unexpected events - often pathological, some psychological, leads to dysfunctional outcomes. Ex. maternal exposure to ssris, maternal exposure to e. coli bacteria, parents exposed to traumatic events while expecting (stress hormones prenatally) Expected events - produce typical, well adapted phenotypes. Natural variations of experience - developmental plasticity leading to alternative adult phenotypes. Ex. maternal diet, differences in maternal care approach. Barker hypothesis - barker showed that low birth weight is a significant predictor of heart disease (correlation) Thrifty phenotype - each material possession that the mother consumes/uses (ie lotion, perfumes, makeup) serves as a postcard cue for the fetus to observe the world through vicariously. Famine during pregnancy leads to later obesity.
