Mental Illness

Question 1

what region of the brain mainly increased

Answer 1

• neocortex

Question 2

how did the brain evolve to be so big (2)

Answer 2

• mutations created genetic variation and phenotypic variation
• selection on variation and response to selection

Question 3

what does the phrase: “genes for ____” mean

Answer 3

• genetic variation within these genes cause variation in phenotype
• NS can select for a certain phenotype within the variation of the phenotype produced

Question 4

normal expression of genes for brain size

Answer 4

• usual size of brain

Question 5

reduced expression of genes for brain size

Answer 5

• microcephaly

Question 6

increased expression of genes for brain size

Answer 6

macrocephaly

Question 7

why did the human brain evolve to be so big

Answer 7

• larger social group size -> increased neocortex size in primates

Question 8

social selective pressures

Answer 8

• produced the social brain: distributed integrated neural system for acquiring, processing and deploying social information

Question 9

conceptual ideas of the social brain (4)

Answer 9

• self has logic and emotion
• emotion and logic create speech and contribute to goal pursuit
• speech can be used for goal pursuit to maximize fitness
• speech can be used to converse with others

Question 10

what are the components of the social brain (6)

Answer 10

• language
• sense of self
• mentalistic skill (thinking about what others are thinking
• social emotionality (pride, guilt, embarassment)
• logical and analytic skill
• complex, regulated goal pursuit

Question 11

large scale variation: under-development of language

Answer 11

• no speech

Question 12

large scale variation: under-development of sense of self

Answer 12

• reduced sense of self

Question 13

large scale variation: under-development of mentalistic skill

Answer 13

• low mentalistic skill

Question 14

large scale variation: under-development of social emotionality

Answer 14

• basic emotions

Question 15

large scale variation: under-development of logical and analytical skill

Answer 15

• mechanical logic

Question 16

large scale variation: under-development of complex, regulated goal pursuit

Answer 16

• no goal pursuit

Question 17

large scale variation: under-development

- result

Answer 17

• typically results in autism

Question 18

autism

Answer 18

defined by specific deficits in:

• social reciprocity
• language
• restricted interests, stereotypical behaviour

Question 19

large scale variation: over-development of language

Answer 19

• auditory hallucinations: common among humans

Question 20

large scale variation: over-development of sense of self

Answer 20

• megalomania: belief that oneself is famous, rich, etc

Question 21

large scale variation: over-development of mentalistic self

Answer 21

• paranoia and social delusions: believe people are plotting against us

Question 22

psychosis (2)

Answer 22

• due to over-development of language, sense of self, and mentalistic skill
• auditory hallucinations, megalomania, paranoia and social delusion

Question 23

large scale variation: over-development of social emotionality

Answer 23

• depression or elation

Question 24

large scale variation: over-development of logical, analytical skill

Answer 24

• thought disorder: thought and speech become chaotic with loose association between speech & thoughts

Question 25

large scale variation: over-development of complex, regulated goal pursuit

Answer 25

- mania: extremely energetic and major goal pursuit of sex and money

Question 26

schizophrenia (5)

Answer 26

- hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, thought disorder, dysregulated mood

Question 27

bipolar disorder (3)

Answer 27

- mania, depression, psychosis

Question 28

major depression (2)

Answer 28

- depression and psychosis

Question 29

schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression

Answer 29

- three conditions share phenotypes, genetic risks factors, and some neurological, physiological correlates

Question 30

collection of genes for social brain disorders (schizophrenia and autism) (2)

Answer 30

1. most case are polygenic: cumulative, small effects of many, common alleles across many loci 2. some cases: few rare alleles of large effect and a single loci

Question 31

how did the human brain evolve to be so social and implications for schizophrenia (2)

Answer 31

- series of genetic changes (mutations) that were strongly selection for led to evolution of alleles for more-complex sociality - selection of alleles for schizophrenia were also selected for and schizophrenia may be due to having too many social alleles

Question 32

copy number variation

Answer 32

- deletions and duplications of genomic regions

Question 33

autistic-psychotic continuum

Answer 33

- autistic spectrum to balanced to psychotic spectrum - autism is characterized by more mechanistic cognition - schizophrenia is characterized by more mentalistic cognition

Question 34

how can Darwin help (3)

Answer 34

- defines large research program - provides evolutionary framework for therapy - provides evolutionary framework for pharmacological treatment