Reductionist thinking and animal models in neuropsychiatric research

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Baran
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Developmental Genetic ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Mechanisms Of Plasticity

AbstractReductionist thinking in neuroscience is manifest in the widespread use of animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders. Broader investigations of diverse behaviors in non-model organisms and longer-term study of the mechanisms of plasticity will yield fundamental insights into the neurobiological, developmental, genetic, and environmental factors contributing to the “massively multifactorial system networks” which go awry in mental disorders.

Obesity: epigenetic regulation – recent observations

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlene Remely ◽  
Ana Laura de la Garza ◽  
Ulrich Magnet ◽  
Eva Aumueller ◽  
Alexander G. Haslberger
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Transgenerational Inheritance ◽  
Obesity Gene ◽  
Epigenetic Modifiers ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

AbstractGenetic and environmental factors, especially nutrition and lifestyle, have been discussed in the literature for their relevance to epidemic obesity. Gene-environment interactions may need to be understood for an improved understanding of the causes of obesity, and epigenetic mechanisms are of special importance. Consequences of epigenetic mechanisms seem to be particularly important during certain periods of life: prenatal, postnatal and intergenerational, transgenerational inheritance are discussed with relevance to obesity. This review focuses on nutrients, diet and habits influencing intergenerational, transgenerational, prenatal and postnatal epigenetics; on evidence of epigenetic modifiers in adulthood; and on animal models for the study of obesity.

Individual and Sex Differences

2018 ◽  
pp. 68-94
Author(s):  
Marco Del Giudice
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Normal Variation ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Individual And Sex Differences

The chapter summarizes current research on individual and sex differences in personality and cognitive abilities and reviews the main evolutionary processes that produce and maintain individual variation. Since psychopathology is inextricably linked to normal variation in personality and cognition, a unified approach to mental disorders must incorporate a sophisticated understanding of both individual and sex differences. The chapter describes the structure of personality and cognitive ability and examines their evolutionary and neurobiological underpinnings. The final section considers the interplay of genetic and environmental factors in the development of individual differences and discusses recent models of developmental plasticity and genotype–environment interactions.

Gene–environment interaction

2020 ◽  
pp. 343-358
Author(s):  
Craig Morgan ◽  
Marta Di Forti ◽  
Helen L. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Statistical Modelling ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment Interaction ◽  
Working Definition ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Study Designs

For all major mental disorders there are many factors that, in combination and through multiple pathways, increase or decrease the risk of onset. These include, to varying degrees, genetic and environmental factors. This chapter provides an introduction, from an epidemiological perspective, to the study of gene–environment interaction. It begins by providing a working definition of gene–environment interaction, rooted in a sufficient causes framework, and then considers, in turn, the prominent puzzles and challenges, including the statistical modelling of interaction, the main study designs (including strengths and weaknesses), measurement of environmental exposures, and required sample sizes. The chapter concludes with a consideration of the implications of recent advances in genetics for studies of gene–environment interaction.

scholarly journals Aspects of animal models for major neuropsychiatric disorders

2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 1105-1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radu Lefter ◽  
Dumitru Cojocaru ◽  
Alin Ciobica ◽  
Manuel Paulet ◽  
Lacramioara Serban ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽  
Behavioral Tests ◽  
Experimental Animals ◽  
Pathological Conditions

We will review the main animal models for the major neuropsychiatric disorders, focusing on schizophrenia, Alzheimer?s disease, Parkinson?s disease, depression, anxiety and autism. Although these mental disorders are specifically human pathologies and therefore impossible to perfectly replicate in animals, the use of experimental animals is based on the physiological and anatomical similarities between humans and animals such as the rat, and mouse, and on the fact that 99% of human and murine genomes are shared. Pathological conditions in animals can be assessed by manipulating the metabolism of neurotransmitters, through various behavioral tests, and by determining biochemical parameters that can serve as important markers of disorders.

scholarly journals Neuropathology and Animal Models of Autism: Genetic and Environmental Factors

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bharathi S. Gadad ◽  
Laura Hewitson ◽  
Keith A. Young ◽  
Dwight C. German
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Genes And Environment ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Patterns Of Behavior ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Autism is a heterogeneous behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder. It is defined by the presence of marked social deficits, specific language abnormalities, and stereotyped repetitive patterns of behavior. Because of the variability in the behavioral phenotype of the disorder among patients, the term autism spectrum disorder has been established. In the first part of this review, we provide an overview of neuropathological findings from studies of autism postmortem brains and identify the cerebellum as one of the key brain regions that can play a role in the autism phenotype. We review research findings that indicate possible links between the environment and autism including the role of mercury and immune-related factors. Because both genes and environment can alter the structure of the developing brain in different ways, it is not surprising that there is heterogeneity in the behavioral and neuropathological phenotypes of autism spectrum disorders. Finally, we describe animal models of autism that occur following insertion of different autism-related genes and exposure to environmental factors, highlighting those models which exhibit both autism-like behavior and neuropathology.

scholarly journals Triggers for Autism: Genetic and Environmental Factors

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. JCNSD.S9058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideo Matsuzaki ◽  
Keiko Iwata ◽  
Takayuki Manabe ◽  
Norio Mori
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Clinical Research ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Single Factor ◽  
Epidemiological Research ◽  
Biological Studies ◽  
Unknown Factor ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

This report reviews the research on the factors that cause autism. In several studies, these factors have been verified by reproducing them in autistic animal models. Clinical research has demonstrated that genetic and environmental factors play a major role in the development of autism. However, most cases are idiopathic, and no single factor can explain the trends in the pathology and prevalence of autism. At the time of this writing, autism is viewed more as a multi-factorial disorder. However, the existence of an unknown factor that may be common in all autistic cases cannot be ruled out. It is hoped that future biological studies of autism will help construct a new theory that can interpret the pathology of autism in a coherent manner. To achieve this, large-scale epidemiological research is essential.

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