基因-大脑-行为框架下的抑制控制与老化

抑制控制能力是认知功能的重要成分。神经影像研究表明, 老年人抑制控制能力改变与前额叶皮层萎缩、神经元丧失有着密切关系, 抑制过程中前额叶需要以更高水平的激活达到代偿目的。遗传学研究表明, 抑制控制相关认知老化具有个体差异性, 大脑结构功能对个体差异的作用会出现衰退, 而遗传变异作用逐渐增加, 并使之成为认知老化个体差异性的主要原因之一。未来研究应利用遗传影像学, 结合影像学和遗传学优势, 在基因、大脑和行为框架下探索抑制控制与老化。     

从遗传学发展史看原创性科学研究的作用及特点

探讨原创性科学研究的作用及特点,从遗传学发展史中选取某些典型事例进行分析,遗传学的百年历史记载着一批遗传学大师们的原创性科学研究的光辉业绩,他们的研究工作具有共同的特点,但在某一方面又有独到之处.原创性科学研究是学科形成和发展的原动力.原创性科学研究主要包含四个特点:卓越的科研思想、巧妙的实验设计、恰当的材料选择、精辟的结果分析.     

DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY,NATURAL SELECTION,AND THE CONCEPTUAL BOUNDARIES OF THE MODERN EVOLUTIONARY SYNTHESIS

Using the evolution of the stickleback family of subarctic fish as a touchstone, we explore the effect of new discoveries about regulatory genetics, developmental plasticity, and epigenetic inheritance on the conceptual foundations of the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis. Identifying the creativity of natural selection as the hallmark of the Modern Synthesis, we show that since its inception its adherents have pursued a variety of research projects that at first seemed to conflict with its principles, but were accommodated. We situate challenges coming from developmental biology in a dialectic between innovation and tradition, suggesting on the basis of past episodes that even if developmental plasticity and epigenetic inheritance are aligned with its principles the Modern Synthesis (and its image in the public reception of evolution) will be significantly affected.     

有关智力的遗传研究演进

智力是被行为遗传学广泛研究的重要内容之一。过去十几年问。有关智力的遗传研究超越了最基本的先天与后天之争,通过发展的遗传分析、多变量遗传分析以及对遗传与环境交互作用的探讨获得了许多重要发现。分子遗传学的发展更是为智力研究展开了新的一页,使得确定与特定认知能力有关的基因成为可能。     

共情特质的神经生物学基础

共情特质的个体差异是心理学研究领域中的一个重要主题。近些年来, 研究者开始关注导致人们共情能力高低有别的神经生物学基础问题。研究发现, 不论是情感共情特质还是认知共情特质, 其个体差异均在大脑进行共情反应、脑结构态及静息态功能连接上有所体现。它们共同说明, 人们的共情能力与其具身模仿能力, 情感加工能力及情绪理解能力密切相关。不仅如此, 共情特质也具有高度的可遗传性, 一些基因类型与该能力存在着紧密的关系。在今后的研究中, 需要扩展对共情特质结构的进一步认识, 关注环境和基因在影响共情特质上存在的交互作用, 并努力将理论研究成果应用于共情能力训练和提高的临床实践中。     

Assessing mobility in an aging society: Personal and built environment factors associated with older people’s subjective transportation deficiency in the US

This study analyzed subjective transportation deficiency, in terms of missing activities due to lack of transportation, of the older population aged 65 and over in the United States. This study found that those who have lower personal automobile accessibility and minority females are more likely to experience transportation deficiency. Older people who have lower income, have lived for a relatively short period (3–10 years) in their communities, and live with minors are also more likely to experience lack of transportation. Older people who live in suburban communities have greater transportation deficiency, but the placement of activity locations within walking distance can improve transportation deficiency among older people who do not drive. The availability of public transit services within walking distance and knowledge about transportation alternatives do not significantly affect the transportation deficiency of the older population. The results indicate that a substantive focus should be given to how to help the older population keep driving as long as they can, and aid communities with high concentrations of older minority females. Also, developing activity clusters containing commercial and social service facilities in suburban areas with high concentrations of older populations, has the potential to alleviate transportation deficiency among this widely observed group of people who age in place.     

阅读能力个体差异的遗传基础—— 双生子研究的元分析

阅读能力的个体差异来源是行为遗传学的研究焦点之一。文章通过对80个阅读双生子研究的元分析发现：(1)遗传对阅读及其加工过程、基本认知技能具有中等强度影响; (2)不同阅读加工成分既受到共同遗传因素的作用, 又同时受到特异遗传因素的影响。(3)阅读与一般认知能力、数学能力在遗传上存在中等强度相关。这些结果表明了双生子研究对探索阅读的遗传机制具有分子遗传学所不可替代的价值, 文章还提出了如提升行为表型的测查质量等对未来研究的具体建议。     

社会支持网络对城市贫困人口身心状况的影响

摘 要 通过对天津贫困人口的随机样本的分析,探讨了社会支持的数量、质量和社会支持网的网络结构对贫困人口的身心状况的影响。研究发现,社会支持的数量对城市贫困人口的身心状况没有影响。社会支持的质量则对贫困人口的身心状况有正向的影响。社会支持网的异质性越高,趋同性越低,生活满意度越高。这些指标对身体健康则没有影响。但网络中高于中心成员收入水平的越多,身心状况越差。     

A behavior genetic analysis of personality and loneliness

The phenotypic, genetic, and environmental correlations between the Big Five factors of personality and loneliness were examined. At the phenotypic level, loneliness had a strong significant positive correlation with neuroticism, significant moderate negative correlations with agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion, and a small positive correlation with openness. Both loneliness and personality were found to be heritable. Bivariate genetic analyses resulted in significant positive genetic correlations between loneliness and neuroticism and openness, and significant negative genetic correlations with agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion. Significant unique environment correlations were found between loneliness and four of the five personality factors (all negative except neuroticism) and a non-significant correlation with openness. The results suggest common genetic and unique environmental factors play a role in personality and loneliness.