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Brown ER, Gettler LT, Rosenbaum S. Effects of social environments on male primate HPG and HPA axis developmental programming. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22491. [PMID: 38698633 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Developmental plasticity is particularly important for humans and other primates because of our extended period of growth and maturation, during which our phenotypes adaptively respond to environmental cues. The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes are likely to be principal targets of developmental "programming" given their roles in coordinating fitness-relevant aspects of the phenotype, including sexual development, adult reproductive and social strategies, and internal responses to the external environment. In social animals, including humans, the social environment is believed to be an important source of cues to which these axes may adaptively respond. The effects of early social environments on the HPA axis have been widely studied in humans, and to some extent, in other primates, but there are still major gaps in knowledge specifically relating to males. There has also been relatively little research examining the role that social environments play in developmental programming of the HPG axis or the HPA/HPG interface, and what does exist disproportionately focuses on females. These topics are likely understudied in males in part due to the difficulty of identifying developmental milestones in males relative to females and the general quiescence of the HPG axis prior to maturation. However, there are clear indicators that early life social environments matter for both sexes. In this review, we examine what is known about the impact of social environments on HPG and HPA axis programming during male development in humans and nonhuman primates, including the role that epigenetic mechanisms may play in this programming. We conclude by highlighting important next steps in this research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella R Brown
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Lee T Gettler
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Stacy Rosenbaum
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Street ME, Ponzi D, Renati R, Petraroli M, D’Alvano T, Lattanzi C, Ferrari V, Rollo D, Stagi S. Precocious puberty under stressful conditions: new understanding and insights from the lessons learnt from international adoptions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1149417. [PMID: 37201098 PMCID: PMC10187034 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1149417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuro-biological variations in the timing of sexual maturation within a species are part of an evolved strategy that depend on internal and external environmental conditions. An increased incidence of central precocious puberty (CPP) has been described in both adopted and "covid-19 pandemic" children. Until recently, it was hypothesised that the triggers for CPP in internationally adopted children were likely to be better nutrition, greater environmental stability, and improved psychological wellbeing. However, following data collected during and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, other possibilities must be considered. In a society with high levels of child wellbeing, the threat to life presented by an unknown and potentially serious disease and the stressful environment created by lockdowns and other public health measures could trigger earlier pubertal maturation as an evolutionary response to favour early reproduction. The main driver for increased rates of precocious and rapidly progressive puberty during the pandemic could have been the environment of "fear and stress" in schools and households. In many children, CPP may have been triggered by the psychological effects of living without normal social contact, using PPE, being near adults concerned about financial and other issues and the fear of getting ill. The features and time of progression of CPP in children during the pandemic are similar to those observed in adopted children. This review considers the mechanisms regulating puberty with a focus on neurobiological and evolutionary mechanisms, and analyses precocious puberty both during the pandemic and in internationally adopted children searching for common yet unconsidered factors in an attempt to identify the factors which may have acted as triggers. In particular, we focus on stress as a potential factor in the early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and its correlation with rapid sexual maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elisabeth Street
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Unit of Paediatrics, P. Barilla Children’s Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
- *Correspondence: Maria Elisabeth Street,
| | - Davide Ponzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Roberta Renati
- Department of Pedagogy, Psychology and Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maddalena Petraroli
- Unit of Paediatrics, P. Barilla Children’s Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Tiziana D’Alvano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Unit of Paediatrics, P. Barilla Children’s Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Claudia Lattanzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Unit of Paediatrics, P. Barilla Children’s Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Vittorio Ferrari
- Health Sciences Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Dolores Rollo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Stagi
- Health Sciences Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliero Univesitaria Meyer IRCCS, Florence, Italy
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Bar-Sadeh B, Amichai OE, Pnueli L, Begum K, Leeman G, Emes RD, Stöger R, Bentley GR, Melamed P. Epigenetic regulation of 5α reductase-1 underlies adaptive plasticity of reproductive function and pubertal timing. BMC Biol 2022; 20:11. [PMID: 34996447 PMCID: PMC8742331 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01219-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Women facing increased energetic demands in childhood commonly have altered adult ovarian activity and shorter reproductive lifespan, possibly comprising a strategy to optimize reproductive success. Here, we sought to understand the mechanisms of early-life programming of reproductive function, by integrating analysis of reproductive tissues in an appropriate mouse model with methylation analysis of proxy tissue DNA in a well-characterized population of Bangladeshi migrants in the UK. Bangladeshi women whose childhood was in Bangladesh were found to have later pubertal onset and lower age-matched ovarian reserve than Bangladeshi women who grew-up in England. Subsequently, we aimed to explore the potential relevance to the altered reproductive phenotype of one of the genes that emerged from the screens. Results Of the genes associated with differential methylation in the Bangladeshi women whose childhood was in Bangladesh as compared to Bangladeshi women who grew up in the UK, 13 correlated with altered expression of the orthologous gene in the mouse model ovaries. These mice had delayed pubertal onset and a smaller ovarian reserve compared to controls. The most relevant of these genes for reproductive function appeared to be SRD5A1, which encodes the steroidogenic enzyme 5α reductase-1. SRD5A1 was more methylated at the same transcriptional enhancer in mice ovaries as in the women’s buccal DNA, and its expression was lower in the hypothalamus of the mice as well, suggesting a possible role in the central control of reproduction. The expression of Kiss1 and Gnrh was also lower in these mice compared to controls, and inhibition of 5α reductase-1 reduced Kiss1 and Gnrh mRNA levels and blocked GnRH release in GnRH neuronal cell cultures. Crucially, we show that inhibition of this enzyme in female mice in vivo delayed pubertal onset. Conclusions SRD5A1/5α reductase-1 responds epigenetically to the environment and its downregulation appears to alter the reproductive phenotype. These findings help to explain diversity in reproductive characteristics and how they are shaped by early-life environment and reveal novel pathways that might be targeted to mitigate health issues caused by life-history trade-offs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01219-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Bar-Sadeh
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Or E Amichai
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Lilach Pnueli
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel
| | - Khurshida Begum
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Gregory Leeman
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Richard D Emes
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Reinhard Stöger
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | | | - Philippa Melamed
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000, Haifa, Israel.
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Keestra S, Högqvist Tabor V, Alvergne A. Reinterpreting patterns of variation in human thyroid function: An evolutionary ecology perspective. EVOLUTION MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 9:93-112. [PMID: 34557302 PMCID: PMC8454515 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoaa043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid hormone reference intervals—used to determine normal thyroid
function —currently don’t take into account many significant
factors that can cause variation in thyroid hormone levels. These factors
include age, sex, ethnicity, season, time of day, iodine content in the diet,
socioeconomic status, stress levels, body composition, immune status, menstrual
cycle phase, and overall health status. This paper shows how early life
experiences as well as short term stressors may affect variation in thyroid
function. These are energetic challenges to which the thyroid physiology can
respond to. Our investigation shows that much variation in thyroid function is
natural. It may result from a complex interplay of evolutionary, genetic,
developmental, and physiological factors in response to energetic challenges in
the environment, beyond what is currently considered in biomedicine. A new
research agenda for thyroid health should explore the way that diversity in
thyroid function has evolved as a response to different contexts people live
in—like focusing on how people’s metabolisms adapt to the
energetic requirements of their environments. Two hundred million people worldwide experience some form of thyroid disorder,
with women being especially at risk. However, why human thyroid function varies
between populations, individuals, and across the lifespan has attracted little
research to date. This limits our ability to evaluate the conditions under which
patterns of variation in thyroid function are best understood as
‘normal’ or ‘pathological’. In this review, we
aim to spark interest in research aimed at understanding the causes of variation
in thyroid phenotypes. We start by assessing the biomedical literature on
thyroid imbalance to discuss the validity of existing reference intervals for
diagnosis and treatment across individuals and populations. We then propose an
evolutionary ecological framework for understanding the phylogenetic, genetic,
ecological, developmental, and physiological causes of normal variation in
thyroid function. We build on this approach to suggest testable predictions for
how environmental challenges interact with individual circumstances to influence
the onset of thyroid disorders. We propose that dietary changes, ecological
disruptions of co-evolutionary processes during pregnancy and with pathogens,
emerging infections, and exacerbated stress responses can contribute to
explaining the onset of thyroid diseases. For patients to receive the best
personalized care, research into the causes of thyroid variation at multiple
levels is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarai Keestra
- School of Anthropology & Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Alexandra Alvergne
- School of Anthropology & Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
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Burris ME, Wiley AS. Marginal Food Security Predicts Earlier Age at Menarche Among Girls From the 2009-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2021; 34:462-470. [PMID: 33839292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2021.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE This study analyzed the relationship between household food security and variation in age at menarche, as well as the connections between food insecurity, nutritional status, and allostatic load, among girls aged 12-15 years from the 2009-2014 United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). METHODS Data analysis included mean comparisons of age at menarche among household food security groups (high, marginal, low, and very low) as well as categorical variables known to associate with age at menarche (ethnicity, poverty status, body mass index [BMI], allostatic load, and milk consumption). χ2 Analyses were used to test the associations between household food security and additional categorical variables. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used to test the relationship between variation in age at menarche and household food security, ethnicity, BMI, and allostatic load categories while controlling for age. RESULTS Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Mexican American girls had earlier mean ages at menarche, higher mean BMIs, and disproportionately experienced household food insecurity when compared to non-Hispanic White-identifying girls. In the univariate analyses, marginal household food security, Hispanic/Mexican American and Black ethnicities, overweight and obese BMI categories, and marginal-high allostatic load were each associated with lower age at menarche compared to reference categories. These associations were maintained in the multivariate analysis, although only Hispanic/Mexican American ethnicity predicted earlier menarche when compared to that of non-Hispanic White girls. CONCLUSIONS Marginal household food security, particularly for girls who identified as non-White, predicted earlier age at menarche independent of nutritional status and allostatic load. At the same time, having more energetic resources (ie, higher BMI) also significantly predicted earlier menarche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mecca E Burris
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
| | - Andrea S Wiley
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
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7
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Ponzi D, Flinn MV, Muehlenbein MP, Nepomnaschy PA. Hormones and human developmental plasticity. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 505:110721. [PMID: 32004677 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Natural selection favors the evolution of mechanisms that optimize the allocation of resources and time among competing traits. Hormones mediate developmental plasticity, the changes in the phenotype that occur during ontogeny. Despite their highly conserved functions, the flexibilities of human hormonal systems suggest a strong history of adaptation to variable environments. Physiological research on developmental plasticity has focused on the early programming effects of stress, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) and the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA) during critical periods, when the hormones produced have the strongest influence on the developing brain. Often this research emphasizes the maladaptive effects of early stressful experiences. Here we posit that the HPAA and HPAG systems in human developmental plasticity have evolved to be responsive to complex and dynamic problems associated with human sociality. The lengthy period of human offspring dependency, and its associated brain development and risks, is linked to the uniquely human combination of stable breeding bonds, extensive paternal effort in a multi-male group, extended bilateral kin recognition, grandparenting, and controlled exchange of mates among kin groups. We evaluate an evolutionary framework that integrates proximate physiological explanations with ontogeny, phylogeny, adaptive function, and comparative life history data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Ponzi
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy.
| | - Mark V Flinn
- Department of Anthropology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
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Bayerl DS, Klampfl SM, Bosch OJ. More than reproduction: Central gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonism decreases maternal aggression in lactating rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2019; 31:e12709. [PMID: 30882966 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a major regulator and activator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Many studies have demonstrated the importance of GnRH in reproduction and sexual behaviour. However, to date, only a single study shows an involvement of GnRH in maternal behaviour where a 30% reduction of GnRH neurones abolishes a mother's motivation to retrieve pups. On this basis, we aimed to investigate the effects of acute central GnRH receptor blockade in lactating rats on maternal care under non-stress and stress conditions, maternal motivation in the pup retrieval test, maternal anxiety on the elevated plus maze, and maternal aggression in the maternal defence test. We found that acute central infusion of a GnRH antagonist ([d-Phe2,6 ,Pro3 ]-luteinising hormone-releasing hormone; 0.5 ng 5 μL-1 ) impaired a mother's attack behaviour against a female intruder rat during the maternal defence test compared to vehicle controls. However, in contrast to the previous study on reduced GnRH neurones, acute central GnRH antagonism did not affect pup retrieval, nor any other parameter of maternal behaviour or maternal anxiety. Taken together, GnRH receptor activation is mandatory for protection of the offspring. These findings shed new light on GnRH as a neuropeptide acting not exclusively on the reproductive axis but, additionally, on maternal behaviour including pup retrieval and maternal aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris S Bayerl
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie M Klampfl
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Oliver J Bosch
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Worthman CM, Dockray S, Marceau K. Puberty and the Evolution of Developmental Science. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE 2019; 29:9-31. [PMID: 30869841 PMCID: PMC6961839 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, theoretical and methodological advances have operated synergistically to advance understanding of puberty and prompt increasingly comprehensive models that engage with the temporal, psychosocial, and biological dimensions of this maturational milepost. This integrative overview discusses these theoretical and methodological advances and their implications for research and intervention to promote human development in the context of changing maturational schedules and massive ongoing social transformations.
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10
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Le GT, Deardorff J, Lahiff M, Harley KG. Intergenerational Associations Between Parental Incarceration and Children's Sexual Risk Taking in Young Adulthood. J Adolesc Health 2019; 64:398-404. [PMID: 30514651 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Research on parental incarceration and the health of offspring is relatively scarce despite studies linking childhood adverse experiences to a range of physical and mental health conditions. This study aimed to estimate the associations between parental incarceration and sexual risk outcomes (early sexual onset, inconsistent condom use, and sexually transmitted infections [STIs]) in young adulthood. METHODS We used logistic regression to estimate associations of sexual risk taking behaviors with parental incarceration during childhood in a sample of 3,972 participants in The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) between 2001 and 2009. RESULTS Parental incarceration was associated with early sexual onset (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-2.03) and STIs (AOR =2.0, 95% CI = 1.3-3.2). Maternal incarceration was associated with increased odds of early sexual onset (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI = 1.9-6.7), inconsistent condom use (AOR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.3-8.9), and STIs (AOR = 5.5, 95% CI = 1.7-17.6). Additionally, paternal incarceration and parental incarceration occurring before age 10 were associated with STIs (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1-2.8; AOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1-3.7). CONCLUSIONS Parental incarceration, especially maternal imprisonment, is associated with risky sexual behavior and sexually transmitted infections in young adults in the United States. Intervening during or prior to the adolescent developmental period may ameliorate risky sexual behaviors and related health outcomes among children of incarceration parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianna T Le
- University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, California.
| | - Julianna Deardorff
- University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, California
| | - Maureen Lahiff
- University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, California
| | - Kim G Harley
- University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, California
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Abstract
The assumption that early stress leads to dysregulation and impairment is widespread in developmental science and informs prevailing models (e.g., toxic stress). An alternative evolutionary–developmental approach, which complements the standard emphasis on dysregulation, proposes that early stress may prompt the development of costly but adaptive strategies that promote survival and reproduction under adverse conditions. In this review, we survey this growing theoretical and empirical literature, highlighting recent developments and outstanding questions. We review concepts of adaptive plasticity and conditional adaptation, introduce the life history framework and the adaptive calibration model, and consider how physiological stress response systems and related neuroendocrine processes may function as plasticity mechanisms. We then address the evolution of individual differences in susceptibility to the environment, which engenders systematic person–environment interactions in the effects of stress on development. Finally, we discuss stress-mediated regulation of pubertal development as a case study of how an evolutionary–developmental approach can foster theoretical integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce J. Ellis
- Department of Psychology and Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Marco Del Giudice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
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Foley JE, Ram N, Susman EJ, Weinraub M. Changes to sleep-wake behaviors are associated with trajectories of pubertal timing and tempo of secondary sex characteristics. J Adolesc 2018; 68:171-186. [DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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13
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Barbosa C, Simmons JG, Vijayakumar N, Dudgeon P, Patton GC, Mundy LK, Allen NB, Whittle S. Interaction Between Parenting Styles and Adrenarcheal Timing Associated With Affective Brain Function in Late Childhood. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2018; 57:678-686.e4. [PMID: 30196871 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Parenting and pubertal timing have consistently been associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms in childhood and adolescence, and there is some evidence that the interaction between these factors may be important in conferring risk. However, few studies have investigated whether neurobiological factors mediate these relationships. The current study examined whether interactions between adrenarcheal timing and parenting styles were associated with affective brain function and, in turn, mental health difficulties. METHOD Participants were 88 healthy children (46 female and 42 male, mean age 9.42 years, SD = 1.08 years), with 45 classified as relatively early and 43 as relatively late in adrenarcheal development based upon adrenal hormone levels. Participants completed an affective face functional magnetic resonance imaging task, and parents reported on 5 parenting styles and on child internalizing and externalizing symptoms. RESULTS Negative parenting styles (corporal punishment and poor monitoring) were associated with brain hemodynamic response while viewing affective faces in several subcortical and lateral prefrontal regions, and adrenarcheal timing and/or sex moderated most of these relationships. Sex differences in associations between corporal punishment and brain activation to affective faces indicated that late females might show less adaptive affective neural function when more exposed to this parenting style. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that the interaction between parenting styles and adrenarcheal timing is associated with affective brain function in late childhood, with marked sex differences. Further longitudinal research with larger samples is needed to corroborate and expand upon these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Barbosa
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Julian G Simmons
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Australia
| | | | - Paul Dudgeon
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - George C Patton
- The University of Melbourne, the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and the Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Australia
| | - Lisa K Mundy
- The University of Melbourne, the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and the Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Australia
| | | | - Sarah Whittle
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Australia
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Giatti S, Diviccaro S, Panzica G, Melcangi RC. Post-finasteride syndrome and post-SSRI sexual dysfunction: two sides of the same coin? Endocrine 2018; 61:180-193. [PMID: 29675596 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-018-1593-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sexual dysfunction is a clinical condition due to different causes including the iatrogenic origin. For instance, it is well known that sexual dysfunction may occur in patients treated with antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). A similar side effect has been also reported during treatment with finasteride, an inhibitor of the enzyme 5alpha-reductase, for androgenetic alopecia. Interestingly, sexual dysfunction persists in both cases after drug discontinuation. These conditions have been named post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) and post-finasteride syndrome (PFS). In particular, feeling of a lack of connection between the brain and penis, loss of libido and sex drive, difficulty in achieving an erection and genital paresthesia have been reported by patients of both conditions. It is interesting to note that the incidence of these diseases is probably so far underestimated and their etiopathogenesis is not sufficiently explored. To this aim, the present review will report the state of art of these two different pathologies and discuss, on the basis of the role exerted by three different neuromodulators such as dopamine, serotonin and neuroactive steroids, whether the persistent sexual dysfunction observed could be determined by common mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Giatti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Diviccaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Panzica
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze "Rita Levi Montalcini", Università degli studi di Torino, Neuroscience Institute Cavallieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Orbassano, Italy
| | - Roberto Cosimo Melcangi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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Neither antecedent nor consequence: Developmental integration of chronic stress, pubertal timing, and conditionally adapted stress response. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Del Giudice M, Barrett ES, Belsky J, Hartman S, Martel MM, Sangenstedt S, Kuzawa CW. Individual differences in developmental plasticity: A role for early androgens? Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 90:165-173. [PMID: 29500952 PMCID: PMC5864561 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Developmental plasticity is a widespread property of living organisms, but different individuals in the same species can vary greatly in how susceptible they are to environmental influences. In humans, research has sought to link variation in plasticity to physiological traits such as stress reactivity, exposure to prenatal stress-related hormones such as cortisol, and specific genes involved in major neurobiological pathways. However, the determinants of individual differences in plasticity are still poorly understood. Here we present the novel hypothesis that, in both sexes, higher exposure to androgens during prenatal and early postnatal life should lead to increased plasticity in traits that display greater male variability (i.e., a majority of physical and behavioral traits). First, we review evidence of greater phenotypic variation and higher susceptibility to environmental factors in males; we then consider evolutionary models that explain greater male variability and plasticity as a result of sexual selection. These empirical and theoretical strands converge on the hypothesis that androgens may promote developmental plasticity, at least for traits that show greater male variability. We discuss a number of potential mechanisms that may mediate this effect (including upregulation of neural plasticity), and address the question of whether androgen-induced plasticity is likely to be adaptive or maladaptive. We conclude by offering suggestions for future studies in this area, and considering some research designs that could be used to empirically test our hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Del Giudice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
| | - Emily S Barrett
- School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Jay Belsky
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Hartman
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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Csathó Á, Birkás B. Early-Life Stressors, Personality Development, and Fast Life Strategies: An Evolutionary Perspective on Malevolent Personality Features. Front Psychol 2018; 9:305. [PMID: 29593609 PMCID: PMC5857553 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Life history theory posits that behavioral adaptation to various environmental (ecological and/or social) conditions encountered during childhood is regulated by a wide variety of different traits resulting in various behavioral strategies. Unpredictable and harsh conditions tend to produce fast life history strategies, characterized by early maturation, a higher number of sexual partners to whom one is less attached, and less parenting of offspring. Unpredictability and harshness not only affects dispositional social and emotional functioning, but may also promote the development of personality traits linked to higher rates of instability in social relationships or more self-interested behavior. Similarly, detrimental childhood experiences, such as poor parental care or high parent-child conflict, affect personality development and may create a more distrustful, malicious interpersonal style. The aim of this brief review is to survey and summarize findings on the impact of negative early-life experiences on the development of personality and fast life history strategies. By demonstrating that there are parallels in adaptations to adversity in these two domains, we hope to lend weight to current and future attempts to provide a comprehensive insight of personality traits and functions at the ultimate and proximate levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Árpád Csathó
- Medical School, Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Béla Birkás
- Medical School, Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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18
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Motta-Mena NV, Puts DA. Endocrinology of human female sexuality, mating, and reproductive behavior. Horm Behav 2017; 91:19-35. [PMID: 27866819 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Hormones orchestrate and coordinate human female sexual development, sexuality, and reproduction in relation to three types of phenotypic changes: life history transitions such as puberty and childbirth, responses to contextual factors such as caloric intake and stress, and cyclical patterns such as the ovulatory cycle. Here, we review the endocrinology underlying women's reproductive phenotypes, including sexual orientation and gender identity, mate preferences, competition for mates, sex drive, and maternal behavior. We highlight distinctive aspects of women's sexuality such as the possession of sexual ornaments, relatively cryptic fertile windows, extended sexual behavior across the ovulatory cycle, and a period of midlife reproductive senescence-and we focus on how hormonal mechanisms were shaped by selection to produce adaptive outcomes. We conclude with suggestions for future research to elucidate how hormonal mechanisms subserve women's reproductive phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie V Motta-Mena
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - David A Puts
- Department of Anthropology, Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Center for Human Evolution and Diversity, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802¸ United States.
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Cabeza de Baca T, Ellis BJ. Early stress, parental motivation, and reproductive decision-making: applications of life history theory to parental behavior. Curr Opin Psychol 2017; 15:1-6. [PMID: 28813248 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
This review focuses on the impact of parental behavior on child development, as interpreted from an evolutionary-developmental perspective. We employ psychosocial acceleration theory to reinterpret the effects of variation in parental investment and involvement on child development, arguing that these effects have been structured by natural selection to match the developing child to current and expected future environments. Over time, an individual's development, physiology, and behavior are organized in a coordinated manner (as instantiated in 'life history strategies') that facilitates survival and reproductive success under different conditions. We review evidence to suggest that parental behavior (1) is strategic and contingent on environmental opportunities and constraints and (2) influences child life history strategies across behavioral, cognitive, and physiological domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomás Cabeza de Baca
- Health Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California St., Suite 465, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Bruce J Ellis
- Departments of Psychology and Anthropology, University of Utah, 380 S. 1530 E., Rm 502, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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de Baca TC, Wahl RA, Barnett MA, Figueredo AJ, Ellis BJ. Adversity, Adaptive Calibration, and Health: The Case of Disadvantaged Families. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 2:93-115. [PMID: 27175327 DOI: 10.1007/s40750-016-0042-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiologists and medical researchers often employ an allostatic load model that focuses on environmental and lifestyle factors, together with biological vulnerabilities, to explain the deterioration of human physiological systems and chronic degenerative disease. Although this perspective has informed medicine and public health, it is agnostic toward the functional significance of pathophysiology and health deterioration. Drawing on Life History (LH) theory, the current paper reviews the literature on disadvantaged families to serve as a conceptual model of stress-health relationships in which the allocation of reproductive effort is instantiated in the LH strategies of individuals and reflects the bioenergetic and material resource tradeoffs. We propose that researchers interested in health disparities reframe chronic degenerative diseases as outcomes resulting from strategic calibration of physiological systems to best adapt, survive, and reproduce in response to demands of specific developmental contexts. These effects of adversity on later-age degenerative disease are mediated, in part, by socioemotional and cognitive mechanisms expressed in different life history strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomás Cabeza de Baca
- Health Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Richard A Wahl
- Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arizona
| | - Melissa A Barnett
- Division of Family Studies and Human Development, Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Arizona
| | - Aurelio José Figueredo
- Department of Psychology, School of Mind, Brain, and Behavior, College of Science, University of Arizona
| | - Bruce J Ellis
- Division of Family Studies and Human Development, Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Arizona
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21
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Brüne M. On the role of oxytocin in borderline personality disorder. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2015; 55:287-304. [PMID: 26616386 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Interpersonal dysfunction is central to borderline personality disorder (BPD). Recent research has focused on the role of oxytocin (OT) in BPD, particularly regarding associations of OT activity with symptoms, genetic polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor coding gene (OXTR) in BPD, and experimental modification of interpersonal core problems of patients with BPD such as hypervigilance towards threat detection, mistrust, and non-verbal behaviour during social interaction by intranasal application of OT. METHODS A literature ('medline') review was performed using the keywords 'oxytocin' and 'borderline personality disorder'. Secondary literature on trauma and attachment in relation to OT was also considered relevant. RESULTS Together, findings suggest that in BPD OT is associated with enhanced defensive mechanisms and avoidance behaviour. Moreover, gene-environment interaction concerning polymorphic variations of the OXTR gene and childhood adversity in BPD suggests that these genes convey developmental flexibility or 'differential susceptibility' to environmental contingencies, whereby BPD resides at the poor outcome end of the spectrum. CONCLUSIONS In view of the conflicting literature, it needs to be studied carefully whether OT can serve as a therapeutic agent given adjunct to psychotherapy in BPD. More research about the role of OT is also required with regard to the prevention of the non-genetic intergenerational transmission of BPD. Clarifying the role of OT in BPD may also benefit from research in non-human animals targeting the interaction between early adversity and OT availability more directly. PRACTITIONER POINTS The study of oxytocin can contribute to the understanding of the neurobiology of borderline personality disorder. Oxytocin is critically involved in attachment security, and methylation of the oxytocin receptor may play a role in the epigenetic modulation of early adversity. The intranasal application of oxytocin may be a useful therapeutic adjunct to psychotherapy. Insecure attachment and childhood adversity may produce differential neurobiological effects on the oxytocinergic system in borderline personality disorder. There is insufficient knowledge of how oxytocin interacts with vasopressin, testosterone, dopamine, and serotonin, which are also important key players in the experience of social reward and stress responsivity. It is unclear whether or not oxytocin could be beneficial in preventing the intergenerational (non-genetic) transmission of borderline personality traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Brüne
- Division of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and Psychiatric Preventive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
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22
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Selvaraj S, Kitano H, Ohga H, Yamaguchi A, Matsuyama M. Expression changes of mRNAs encoding kisspeptins and their receptors and gonadotropin-releasing hormones during early development and gonadal sex differentiation periods in the brain of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015; 222:20-32. [PMID: 25304825 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2013] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, brain kisspeptin system has been shown to be involved in diverse reproductive function, including sexual differentiation in vertebrates. Our previous reports demonstrated that the chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) brain expresses two kisspeptin (kiss1, kiss2), two kisspeptin receptor (kissr1, kissr2) and three gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gnrh1, gnrh2, gnrh3) genes. In the present study, using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays, we analysed expression changes of these genes during early development (0-30dphs) and gonadal sex differentiation periods (37-60dphs). Absolute expression level of kiss-kissr-gnrh in the whole head was higher between 0 and 15dphs, in comparison to later developmental periods. Histological analyses revealed presence of sexually differentiated males and females with testicular and ovarian features at 37, 45, and 60dphs. In both males and females, kiss2, kissr1, and kissr2 levels were higher at 37dph, in comparison to 45 and 60dphs, with kiss1 showing no significant differences. Levels of all three gnrh mRNAs were higher at 45dph, in comparison to 60dph. Changes in the expression level of kiss-kissr-gnrh mRNAs in different brain regions of sexually differentiated males and females indicated differences in their regional distribution. These results suggest possible involvement of Kiss-KissR-GnRH systems during early development and gonadal sex differentiation in the chub mackerel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sethu Selvaraj
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Department of Bioresource Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Hajime Kitano
- Fisheries Research Institute of Karatsu, Department of Joint Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Saga 847-0132, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Ohga
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Department of Bioresource Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yamaguchi
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Department of Bioresource Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Michiya Matsuyama
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Department of Bioresource Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
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23
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Del Giudice M. Attachment in Middle Childhood: An Evolutionary-Developmental Perspective. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev 2015; 2015:15-30. [DOI: 10.1002/cad.20101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Del Giudice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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24
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Simmons JG, Byrne ML, Schwartz OS, Whittle SL, Sheeber L, Kaess M, Youssef GJ, Allen NB. Dual-axis hormonal covariation in adolescence and the moderating influence of prior trauma and aversive maternal parenting. Dev Psychobiol 2015; 57:670-87. [PMID: 25754696 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Adversity early in life can disrupt the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes and increase risk for negative health outcomes. The interplay between these axes and the environment is complex, and understanding needs to be advanced by the investigation of the multiple hormonal relationships underlying these processes. The current study examined basal hormonal associations between morning levels of cortisol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone in a cohort of adolescents (mean age 15.56 years). The moderating influence of childhood adversity was also examined, as indexed by self-reported trauma (at mean age 14.91), and observed maternal aggressive parenting (at mean age 12.41). Between-person regressions revealed significant associations between hormones that were moderated by both measures of adversity. In females, all hormones positively covaried, but also interacted with adversity, such that positive covariation was typically only present when levels of trauma and/or aggressive parenting were low. In males, hormonal associations and interactions were less evident; however, interactions were detected for cortisol-testosterone - positively covarying at high levels of aggressive parenting but negatively covarying at low levels - and DHEA-cortisol - similarly positively covarying at high levels of parental aggression. These results demonstrate associations between adrenal and gonadal hormones and the moderating role of adversity, which is likely driven by feedback mechanisms, or cross-talk, between the axes. These findings suggest that hormonal changes may be the pathway through which early life adversity alters physiology and increases health risks, but does so differentially in the sexes; however further study is necessary to establish causation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian G Simmons
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michelle L Byrne
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Orli S Schwartz
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah L Whittle
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Michael Kaess
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - George J Youssef
- Monash Clinical and Imaging Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicholas B Allen
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. .,Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. .,Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.
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Brüne M. On aims and methods of psychiatry - a reminiscence of 50 years of Tinbergen's famous questions about the biology of behavior. BMC Psychiatry 2014; 14:1695. [PMID: 25528560 PMCID: PMC4299481 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-014-0364-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 1963, Nicolaas Tinbergen published an article on "the aims and methods of ethology" in which he identified a fundamental framework for the scientific inquiry into the understanding of biological phenomena. In particular, he emphasized to not only study what he called the "proximate" causes, that is, mechanism and ontogeny of a given trait, but to include evolutionary explanations, i.e., the phylogeny and adaptive properties of that trait. DISCUSSION While influential in the field of biology and to some degree medicine, psychiatry has fallen short of adopting Tinbergen's approach. This article aims at discussing why Tinbergen's précis has lost nothing of its attractiveness to psychiatry as a medical discipline. Examples will be given for the analysis of emotions, attachment and psychotherapy. Tinbergen has bequeathed to us a scientific framework that can greatly advance our understanding of psychiatric conditions and improve diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, with similar potential for medicine in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Brüne
- Division of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and Psychiatric Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Alexandrinenstr. 1, 44791, Bochum, Germany.
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26
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Del Giudice M. Middle Childhood: An Evolutionary-Developmental Synthesis. CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/cdep.12084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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