Quick Hits
Daily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences
I presume you’re not just talking about stressed mothers stressing out their kids and/or grandchildren?
Not precisely. I’m talking about passing on stress activation patterns in DNA genetically.
Oh, that doesn’t sound good!
No, it isn’t good. We have known for quite a while that so-called epigenetic changes seem to be passed on to offspring.
What’s epigenetic?
All genes need to be activated and can be activated in different ways. Epigenetic markers are not a change in genes but how the existing genes are activated or not.
Ok, and this can be passed on?
Yes, the researchers from the University of Iowa, found out the precise mechanism. Clever things they are. But it is complicated. Basically instead of cleaning the hard drive, so to speak, and resetting genes, a protein released stops this “cleaning of the hard drive” and instead of the genes being reset the stress is passed on. Specifically in this case being present in unfertilised eggs.
And what changes?
In this case, Quote: “One of these newly silenced genes encodes the insulin receptor, which is central to metabolic changes with diabetes in humans, and which, when silenced, alters an animal’s physiology, metabolism, and stress resilience.”
Is this big news
Well, as I said, we already knew some of these things can be passed on. For example previous research has shown parents who have been though periods of starvation add an “eating” gene activation and this is passed on to children who are more likely to become obese. Read about that here.
Oh wow? So we should look after ourselves because the damage we do to yourselves can be passed on to our children.
Precisely!
Andy Habermacher
Andy is author of leading brains Review, Neuroleadership, and multiple other books. He has been intensively involved in writing and research into neuroleadership and is considered one of Europe’s leading experts. He is also a well-known public speaker speaking on the brain and human behaviour.
Andy is also a masters athlete (middle distance running) and competes regularly at international competitions (and holds a few national records in his age category).
Reference
Srijit Das, Sehee Min, Veena Prahlad.
Gene bookmarking by the heat shock transcription factor programs the insulin-like signaling pathway.
Molecular Cell, 2021
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.09.022
More Quick Hits
How to reduce loneliness
I have reported multiple times on loneliness during the pandemic – mostly because interest and research into loneliness has taken a large uptick. I have also reported on how to combat this and was happy to see that a piece of research just out proved what I had...
COVID on the Brain
Many COVID-19 patients have reported various neurological symptoms – the well-known brain fog, but also headaches and decreased cognitive function over months and extended periods of time. This even without serious infection or hospitalization. The research seems to...
Life satisfaction after work related to personality traits
As many of you know I have done plenty of work into personality and so found this study interesting. Dusanee Kesavayuth of Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand analysed data from 2,000 adults aged between 50 and 75 in the British Household Panel Survey and found...
Unique regulation of brain in yoga practitioners
Quick HitsDaily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences es, you yoga practitioners knew you were special and here is the science to prove it! In this older study I came across (2018) participants were recruited to see how they dealt with...
Neurodivergence and the lonely brain
Quick HitsDaily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences eurodivergence is term that describes those that are not “neurotypical” such as those with autism and ADHD. In the surge of research into loneliness spurred by the pandemic it has...
Art Engages the Social brain
Quick HitsDaily brief research updates from the cognitive sciences reported in last week’s Quick Hits on how engaging in the arts has a relationship with self-control and avoidance of disagreeable and criminal behaviour and that is why this...