Keywords: Neuroscience, behavior change, neuroplasticity, genetics, human behavior, environmental influence
Introduction:
What in your thought can change human behavior? And why it had been so complex to understand human behavior at times? Human brain is a complex structure that makes people to perceive different aspects of life. Each part of the brain is responsible to perform various functions. Depression, anxiety, hunger, motivation, reward, perseverance, sleep, curiosity, creativeness, ambition, conscientiousness, precise, cautious and being organized are all part of human behavior that humans manifest at different occasions.
Since the discovery of brain by ancient Egyptian, neuroscientific studies have evolved and led to the discovery of genes that alter human behavior.
It is a long evolved history that human behavior is a result of the relative influence of genetic and environmental factor. But 21st century scientists strongly support the idea of the joint influence of both genetic and environmental behavior.
Genetic Influence on Human Behavior:
Individual differences characterizing the genetic and environmental sources are both identified by the human behavior genetics. Human behavior is expressed in terms of the interpretation of signals. These signals are sent to the neural molecules which are encoded by the genes, which are then expressed as a human behavior.
“As we enter the era of personal genomics, they will eventually affect all of us.” -Robert Plomin
Genetic influence is characterized by “gene-to- behavior” pathway. It is determined by the gene action mechanism, endophenotypes, behavioral expression and complexity of biological systems.
The gene regulatory network in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis exhibits an wide variety of human’s social behavior.
Below are mentioned some important genes that have been researched to alter the human behavior.
- vmPFC: This gene links relationship between messages perceived and the subsequent behavioral change. Messages that are considered relevant and fit by the individual leads to more activation of vmPFC gene.
- AVPR1a: This gene is responsible with the emotional arousal and social behavior. The study suggests that this gene is also responsible with autism, a disorder in which an individual lacks social skills, communication and relationships.
- OXTR SNP, rs53576: This gene is responsible with feelings of empathy and maternal sensitivity. Study suggests individuals with one or two copies of A allele manifests lower behavioral empathy.
- FOXP2: This gene is responsible for speech impairment. In a research, the mice exhibited reduced activity, motor impairment and slow development.
Environmental Influence on Human Behavior
All human beings react in response to a stimuli. The human interaction with the environment depends on its perception with the surroundings. It is a reciprocal relationship. An individual surrounded with certain factors which affects it psychologically and it also alters its moral perspective. Human perceives environment through different levels. Behavioral environment is one of the levels which determines its adjudgment with the environment.
Human brain is designed in a complex way. As soon as it perceives danger, it inherently adapts the state of “ flight and fight” response, and when given a chance to respond, directs itself to “flight” response. This enduring effect is termed as “classic” environmental exposure, which affects the brain circuit and alters brain health.
As a matter of fact, neuroscience scrutinizes the interaction of physical environment with social spaces, human behavior and brain.And consequently, its effects on physiological and psychological states when physical environment is modified.
In recent research on twin and adoption study, it suggests that the shared environmental factors between the twin had a greater environmental influence on behavior. Shared environmental effects on IQ in the twins were found to be maximal and decreased with advancement in age.
The study also highlights the genotype- environment interaction and suggests that the genotypic effect on human behavior are mediated by social environment.
Bottom Line:
Human behavior is implicated in a variety of ways, are altered by genotypic and phenotypic factors responsible to instigate the psychological and physiological effects that are perceived through brain. These are focused primarily on the social and cultural values, environmental impacts and human perception.