THE SEVEN AGES OF WOMAN

How Insights from Brain Research affects us all

(1) BEFORE BIRTH…

‘The president of Harvard University, Lawrence H. Summers, sparked an uproar at an academic conference Friday when he said that innate differences between men and women might be

one reason fewer women succeed in science and math careers.’ Boston Globe Jan 2005

An INDIRECT link between genes and brain function…

Levels of Brain Organisation

• Consciousness• Dysfunctions e.g. schizophrenia, depression• Functions e.g. memory, vision• Sub functions e.g. colour/form/motion processing• Brain regions• Large scale assemblies• Isolated neuronal circuits• Neuronal connections (synapses)• Components of synapse e.g. receptor ion channels• Genes

Huntington’s Disease (Chorea)

Mice with the Gene for Huntington’s Chorea:

An Example of Nurture trumping Nature?

van Dellen, Blakemore, Deacon, York & Hannan 2000, Nature

van Dellen, Blakemore, Deacon, York & Hannan 2000, Nature

An Experiment Showing Environment Can trump Genes

van Dellen, Blakemore, Deacon, York & Hannan 2000, Nature

An Experiment Showing Environment Can trump Genes

Standard

housing

Enriched housingNon-Huntington’s

Perc

en

tag

e d

isp

layin

g p

rofo

un

d s

ym

pto

ms

Age (days)

An Experiment Showing Environment Can trump Genes

(2) INFANCY

Developing a Mind…

Newborn 3 months 15 months 2 years

‘Thinking is… Movement Confined to the Brain’

Effects of an ‘Enriched’ Environment

‘Isolated’ ‘Enriched’

Connections Give Ever Deeper MEANING over Time…

The Biological Basis of the MindIs the Personalisation of the Brain

Through Unique Dynamic ConfigurationsOf Neuronal Connections, Driven by

unique Experiences

(3) CHILDHOOD

The 21st Century Environment is Unprecedented…

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-08-07/brits-spend-more-time-using-technology-than-sleeping/

Total hours of media/technology truncated to 3 standard deviations above mean and all total hours above that number were changed to exactly 3 standard deviations above the mean.

Daily Media Usage (standard deviation) for Children, Preteens and Teens Shown in Hours:Minutes

Rosen et al., (2014) Media and technology use predicts ill-being among children, preteens and teenagers independent of the negative health impacts of exercise and eating habits, Computers in Human Behavior, 35, 364-375,

Mind Change: The New Climate Change?

• Both global• Both unprecedented• Both controversial• Both multi-faceted

(4) EARLY CAREER

Attrition Plot for Women in Engineering and Technology 1996 and 2000

Attrition Plot for Women in Engineering and Technology 1996 and 2000

(5) MOTHERHOOD

The Environment of the Screen: Gaming

Why the Increase in Methylphenidate prescriptions?

Research Article

Video game playing, attention problems, and impulsiveness: Evidence of bi-directional causality

Douglas A. Gentile, Edward L. Swing, Choon Guan Lim, and Angeline Khoo

How to cite: Gentile, D. A., Swing, E. L., Lim, C. G., & Khoo, A. (2012). Video game playing, attention problems, and impulsiveness: Evidence of bi-directional causality. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 1, 62-70.

Research Article

Television and Video Game Exposure and the Development of Attention Problems

Edward L. Swing, Douglas A. Gentile, Craig A. Anderson, David A. Walsh

How to cite: Edward L. Swing, Douglas A. Gentile, Craig A. Anderson, David A. Walsh 2010, Television and Video Game Exposure and the Development of Attention Problems Pediatrics Vol. 126 No. 2 pp. 214 -221 (doi: 10.1542/peds.2009-1508.)

Video Games and Attention

Kelly CR, Grinband J, Hirsch J (2007) PLoS ONE 2(12): e1268. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001268

Repeated Exposure to Media Violence Is Associated with Diminished Response in

an Inhibitory Frontolimbic Network.

136 Papers

DesensitisationIncreased arousal

Aggressive cognitionAggressive behaviour

381 Independent Tests

130,296 Participants

Research Article Violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, and prosocial behavior in

Eastern and Western countries: A meta-analytic review.Anderson, Craig A.; Shibuya, Akiko; Ihori, Nobuko; Swing, Edward L.; Bushman, Brad J.; Sakamoto, Akira; Rothstein, Hannah R.;

Saleem, Muniba

How to cite: Anderson, Craig A.; Shibuya, Akiko; Ihori, Nobuko; Swing, Edward L.; Bushman, Brad J.; Sakamoto, Akira; Rothstein, Hannah R.; Saleem, Muniba,. Psychological Bulletin, Vol 136(2), Mar 2010, 151-173

THE NEURAL BASIS OF

VIDEO GAMING

Kuhn, S. et al., Translational Psychiatry

(2011)53, 1-5

Research Article

Computer and Video Game Addiction- A Comparison between Game Users and Non-Game Users

Aviv Malkiel Weinstein

How to cite: Weinstein AM.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. Computer and Video Game Addiction- A Comparison between Game Users and Non-Game Users 2010; 36(5):268-76. doi: 10.3109/00952990.2010.491879

Arousal Addiction Reward

DOPAMI

NE

DOPAMINE

‘Meaningless’Prefrontal under-function?

• Strong feelings• Sensory• Here-and-now• External environment dominates• Little ‘meaning’• Reduced sense of self• No time-space• Infants and children• More

‘Meaningful’Prefrontal activation?

• Thinking dominates• Cognitive• Past / present / future• Internal perceptions dominate• Personalised ‘meaning’• Strong sense of self• Clear time-space reference• Older children and adults• Less

Two Basic Modes for the Human Brain

DOPAMINE

Dopamine

Research Article

Inverse Association Between BMI and Prefrontal Metabolic Activity In Healthy Adults

Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Telang F, Fowler JS, Goldstein RZ, Alia-Klein N, Logan J, Wong C, Thanos PK, Ma Y, Pradhan K.

How to cite: Obesity (2009) Inverse Association Between BMI and Prefrontal Metabolic Activity In Healthy Adults. (1):60-5. doi: 10.1038/oby.2008.469. Epub 2008 Oct 23.

Research Article

Decision-Making in Obesity: A Study using the GamblingPignatti R, Bertella L, Albani G, Mauro A, Molinari E, Semenza C.

How to cite: Eat Weight Disord. (2006) Decision-Making in Obesity: A Study using the Gambling11(3):126-32

WithoutSchizophrenia

WithSchizophrenia

Childhood and Schizophrenia Similarities

Easily distracted

Short attention span

Inability to interpret proverbs

Under-functioning Prefrontal Cortex

A Common Factor: The Press of the Senses?

A CONTINUOUS

CYCLE?

(2) High arousal, high levels of

dopamine release

(6) Conditions of childhood,

schizophrenia, obesity (5) Dopamine causes PFC

hypo-function

(4) Dopamine released

(3) Reward seeking

addictive behaviour

(7) Drive: sensation over

cognition

(8) Greater appeal of a

screen environment?

(1) Intense stimulation of screen: fast response

Social Interaction vs. Electronic Media Use

87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07

10

8

6

4

2

0

Hou

rs /

day

Year

Social interaction

Electronic media use

Words: 10% of total impact Eye contact Body language Voice(tone/rate/volume) Pheromones ? Physical contact ?

Communications in Three Dimensions

NOT AVAILABLE ON

FACEBOOK

Reduced Empathy?

• A link between atypical brain wave responses in problematic face recognition, characteristic of autism, and also of heavy internet users (He et al., 2011)

• A link between autistic spectrum disorders and an under-functioning prefrontal cortex, indicative of a more literal take on the world (Amodio & Frith 2006)

• A link between early screen experiences and later development of autism (Waldman et al., 2006)

• A link between autistic conditions and an appeal of screen technologies (Finkenauer et al., 2012).

• A link between autistic spectrum disorder and compulsive video game use (Mazurek & Engelhardt 2013)

A Link Between Autistic Type Behaviour and the Screen?

History of Blogging…

1999: So I just have to tell someone about this thing my cat did today…

2004: OMG! Cat pictures!

2005: Moving cat pictures!

2007:1:00pm. My cat just sneezed!1:02pm. Cat sneezed again!1:04pm. Cat hasn’t sneezed recently. Getting worried.

Research Article

Self-Presentation 2.0: Narcissism and Self-Esteem on FacebookSoraya Mehdizadeh, B.Sc.

How to cite: Mehdizadeh S. 2010 Self-Presentation 2.0: Narcissism and Self-Esteem on Facebook13(4):357-64. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2009.0257.

The Environment of the Screen: Search Engines

What is Honour?

Princess Marya…

ERIC SCHMIDT (CHAIRMAN, GOOGLE)

‘I worry that the level of interrupt, the sort of overwhelming rapidity of information…is in fact affecting cognition. It is affecting deeper

thinking. I still believe that sitting down and reading a book is the best way to really learn

something. And I worry that we’re losing that…’

Realising the Full Potential of the Human Mind in the Digital Age

• High IQ• Efficient information processing• Short attention span• Icons not ideas• Sensation at premium• Risk taker• Low empathy• Need for constant feedback• Weak sense identity• Low-grade aggression

The Mindset of the 21st Century?

(6) MANAGEMENT

FEMALE LEADERS ARE VIEWED DIFFERENTLY FROM MEN

Christine Wennerås and Agnes Wold,1997

“Science Faculty’s Subtle Gender Biases Favour Male Students”

“Despite efforts to recruit and retain more women, a stark gender disparity persists within academic science.”

Corinne A. Moss-Racusina, B., John F. Dovidio B., Victoria L. Brescollc, Mark J. Grahama, D., and Handelsmana, J. (2012) PNAS vol 109, 16474–16479

“The present study is unique in investigating subtle gender bias on the part of faculty in the biological and physical sciences. It therefore informs the debate on possible causes of the gender disparity in academic science by providing unique experimental evidence that science faculty of both genders exhibit bias against female undergraduates.”

The Male Agenda Can Be Different

CONFIDENCE

The Options…

• Get angry: ‘Neurotic’• Suppress: Insomnia

and ulcers• Find mentor…

‘Someone who believes in you, more than you believe in yourself’

A Mentor…

Jane Mellanby John Stein

(7) OLD AGE

Scarmeas, N. and Y. Stern, J 2011.

Cognitive Reserve and Lifestyle

• Health• Appearance• Reproductive Status• Work Span

The Merging of Generations

Developing And Losing One’s Mind…

…Reflected In Brain Cell Branching (Connections)

Dementia is a Growing Problem

• 700,00 currently• Current cost: £20bn pa • 940,110 by 2021• 1,735,087 by 2051• Increase of 154% over next 40

years• NO NEW DRUG IN LAST 15

YEARS

(1)

Marker in blood detects degeneration

before symptoms appear

+ =(2)

Medication for arresting

further neuronal

death

PERMANENT PREVENTION OF SYMPTOM

ONSET!

Leading a Long and Fulfilling Life...

“Above all, don’t fear difficult moments. The best comes from them”

Rita Levi-Montalcine (1909-2012)

This presentation was delivered at an APM event

To find out more about upcoming events please visit

our website www.apm.org.uk/events