Behavioral Epigenetics and Reinforcement Strategies

Flashcards based on key concepts from the lecture on Behavioral Epigenetics and Reinforcement Strategies.

Epigenetics

The study of how genes and environment interact to influence gene expression.

Phenotype

The actual expression of an individual’s genes, influenced by environmental factors.

Exposome

The totality of environmental exposures an individual experiences throughout their life.

Examples:

• Stressful home vs. loving home

• Clean air vs. pollution

• Childhood trauma vs. support

• Poverty vs. safe community

Positive Reinforcer

A consequence that strengthens behavior by its added presence.

Negative Reinforcer

A consequence that strengthens behavior by being subtracted from the situation.

Behavioral Epigenetics

The study of how gene expression impacts behavior, particularly in social and health-related contexts.

Health Disparities

Health differences closely linked with social, economic, and environmental disadvantage.

Reinforcement

A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Self-Reinforcement

The practice of reinforcing one's own behavior to encourage continued action.

Gene-Environment Interaction

The complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors in determining individual traits and behaviors.

Epigeneteics

the gene enviroment interactionthat affects gene expression and can influence behavior.

Epigenetic mechanism

chemical processes that influence the ability of DNA to give instructors(how genes are expressed) and influence whether phenotype associated with gene variants become manifest physically or clinically.

Enviroment influences these mechanism

physical enviroment,the social enviroment ,the behavioral enviroment,psychological enviroment,vultural factors -this factors interact with a person’s genetic makeup to result in health outcomes

IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH

PROMOTION INTERVENTIONS

3 chategories : 1.prevention of epigenetic risk

conditions 2.reversing

epigenetic changes 3.mitigation

prevention of epigenetic risk

conditions

One category of intervention is prevention of epigenetic risk

conditions in the first place—improving access to prenatal

and early childhood care, reducing poverty, and reducing

unhealthy environmental exposures

(Example: prenatal care, reduce poverty)

reversing

epigenetic changes,

A second category, for which there are few models, would be

to target some health promotion programs at reversing

epigenetic changes, insofar as that is possible. This might

include parent interventions, family and community violence

intervention.

(Example: therapy, violence prevention)

mitigation

A possible third category could be called mitigation—for

example, increasing social support or other factors that buffer

the effects of negative epigenetic changes.

(Example: increase social support)

EPIGENETIC PROCESSES –

COPYING THE GENES (OR NOT)

Genes are composed of segments of DNA and associated proteins.

For a gene to be copied and expressed, its DNA segment has to be

“read” during the developmental process. This is done by RNA,

which binds to the DNA and copies the genetic sequence in order

to produce the proteins for its expression.

EPIGENETIC PROCESSES –

COPYING THE GENES (OR NOT)

BUT…various processes can affect whether or not a genetic

sequence is read or not. These processes include

– DNA methylation

– Histone modification

EPIGENETIC PROCESSES –

COPYING THE GENES (OR NOT)

Leaving the technicalities aside, these processes (and others) are

influenced by environmental factors. SO, THE KEY IS THAT

GENETIC EXPRESSION IS AFFECTED BY THE

ENVIRONMENT…NATURE AND NURTURE TOGETHER

What Epigenetics Really Means

Your DNA is like a big library of books.
Every book is a gene.

But not every book gets read.
Some remain on the shelf.

What decides whether a book is read?
👉 The environment

What Epigenetics Really Means

• You are born with genes (genotype)

• But your life experiences decide which genes turn ON or OFF (phenotype)

• So — genes are not your destiny.
  Your environment shapes them.