recent shift of emphasis from disorder and dysfunction to well being and positive mental health.
Neurobiology of Wellbeing: a Life-course Perspective
(state of science review SR-X3 for The Foresight Project )
Keverne, E.B.
The developing brain
findings mainly deduced from experimental animal studies
human brain is unique in that much of its growth and development occurs postnatally - up to second decade and beyond the age of 20 in the pre-frontal cortex.
'Puberty has always been a life event producing a challenge for well being, but why is it becoming more problematic? Can we attribute these problems to failures in early development, or does the protracted development of the brain produce problems in its own right, that are exacerbated by modern lifestyles.?' 'Puberty is undeniably a period of great emotional turmoil when changes in physical phenotype synchronise with reorganisation of the cortex especially those areas of the brain intimately concerned with emotional regulation and forward planning'
'Better nutrition has led to an earlier onset of puberty - is the maturation of the body phenotype becoming out of phase with brain development, or prematurely precipitating brain maturation.? Did natural selection has shape the evolution of such sensitive periods to optimise successful outcomes ? Also Hominid behavior has become progressively emancipated from physiological homeostasis and the endocrine biology of our bodies, and primarily determined by the cognitive ability of our large brains. ' Bodies and brains are harmoniously synchronised in most mammals, but in humans the vast expanse of neocortex has emancipated the brain from the body's endocrine signal with cognitive control taking over the decision making process'
Epigenetics, pre and post natal environments
low birth rate can be a factor related to future wellbeing.
Pivotal role of the placenta at the interface between the adult brain and the developing foetal (parental) brain whilst simultaneously interacting with both. Co-adaptive selection pressures operate by virtue of two, actively expressing genomes (mother and child) interacting within one individual
The post-natal period is particularly sensitive to life's experiences which can include changes in brain development and behavioral phenotype. eg Harlow and Harlow, maternal deprivation. Epigenetic effects are induced by differential maternal care.
'Epigenetics requires an understanding of how modifications to the DNA and chromatin bring about long term ( birth to adult) changes and , indeed, transgenerational changes in gene expression without changes to DNA coding structures.' 'There is the possibility that environmental events can have long-lasting effects on genomic function' ' This enables the organism to develop a range of alternative phenotypes according to the environmental cues that it receives early in life' 'Germ-line genetic changes are relatively slow and may be more adapted to the environment of distant ancestors, while epigenetic changes allow animals to become adapted to the current environment in one generation'
There is growing evidence for such epigenetic effects operating in humans
Psychological Wellbeing: Evidence regarding its causes and consequences
( state of science review SR-X2 for the Foresight Project)
Huppert, F.A.
Psychological well being is about lives going well; it is a combination of feeling good and functioning effectively. The concept of feeling good incorporates not only positive emotions of happiness and contentment, but also such emotions as interest, engagement, confidence and affection. The concept of functioning effectively ( in a psychological sense) involves the development of one's potential, having some control over one's life, having a sense of purpose and experiencing positive relationships.
( relation with mental health 0- positive mental health (WHO 2001) ' a state of wellbeing in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her own community )
evidence for a seminal role of social factors and the early environment
some drivers of well being are involved in ill being ( albeit in an opposite direction) but not all.
+ emotions and cognitive processes.
'Experimental studies using mood induction techniques demonstrate unequivocally that + mood states can enhance attention and other cognitive processes.'
'Findings suggest that + emotions lead to positive cognitions, + behaviours and increased cognitive capability, and that + cognitions, + behaviours and capabilities in turn fuel + emotions' (Fredrickson and Joiner, 2002)
However 'positive emotions are not beneficial for all cognitive processes. People with negative mood states are better at taking in the details of a situation and people who are sad, anxious or fearful are more conforming and less likely to break rules.
Fredrickson, B.L. and Joiner, T. (2002) Positive emotions trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-being. Psychological Science, 13: 172-5.
relevant neuroscience ( mostly Davidson )
prefrontal cortex - asymmetric activation in relation to positive and negative emotions. The amount of asymmetry varies with emotional style ( whether an individual tends to feel genrally positive or generally negative).
perfrontal asymmetry stable in adults but not during early childhood.
neurochemical effects
cortisol - well being but not ill being. Although there are negative states due to cortical response these seem to be independant of effects on well being
serotonin. - well being but not ill being deficiences lead to absence of well being
oxytocin - from animal studies it has an effect on mother-infant bonding. Nasally administered oxytocin leads to a high degree of trust in a risky investment game ( Kosfield et al, 1995) Therefore some limited eveidence that it may play a role in social bonding.
personality
one of the strongest predictors ( drivers) of emotional style is personality, extraversion with positive and neuroticism with negative emotional style.
Most widely used measure of positive psychological functioning is Ryff's scales of Psychological Wellbeing. Recent longidutinal studies using this scale show a much larger effect of extraversion than of neurotocism on sense of well being
Personality account for around 30% of variation in psychological well being.
socioeconomic and demographic
account for just 10% of variation is psychological well being.
the population perspective
US evidence , 17% flourishing whilst 11% languishing in terms of psychological resources . Targeted approach ( eg the groups at risk ) approach does not seem as effective as achieving minimal shifts across the whole sprectrum, ie leverage obtained by targetting all the popultion and achieving small change in the majority cf binge drinking best tackled by targeting the entire population in terms of a drinking culture.
