Excerpts from: Environmental Impact (Research in behavioral epigenetics is seeking evidence that links experience to biochemistry to gene expression and back out again).
“…behavioral epigenetics seems to demand a different conceptual mindset in neuroscience—a focus on molecular modifications in the cell’s nucleus, rather than on interneuronal circuitry or gross anatomy…”
In my model, molecular modifications result in changes in interneuronal circuitry that are manifested in gross anatomy. Olfactory genetic neuronal hormonal behavioral reciprocity
“…it has long been obvious that some sequence of physiological events must link a human being’s experiences to one’s DNA:…”
In any mammalian model, the sequence of physiological events that link experiences to DNA begins with olfactory/phermonal input. Olfactory genetic neuronal hormonal behavioral reciprocity
“…biochemical signals in the brain … trigger molecular activity in the nuclei of neurons, shutting down some genes and increasing the activity of others. If that weren’t the case, people’s experiences could not affect their behavior.”
In any mammalian model, the biochemical signals in the brain must trigger molecular activity in the nuclei of neurons that secrete hormones. If that were not the case, experiences could not effect hormones that affect behavior. Olfactory genetic neuronal hormonal behavioral reciprocity
My goal, reached in the early 1990’s was “… to lay out every link in the causal chain that leads from a person’s experience to a neurotransmitter, then to a particular gene, then to a specific molecular modification of protein or DNA that affects that gene, and then back out from gene products to neuronal signaling to a person’s thoughts, feelings and actions.” Olfactory genetic neuronal hormonal behavioral reciprocity
