Comparative approaches in evolutionary psychology: molecular neuroscience meets the mind.
Neuro Endocrinol Lett
; 23 Suppl 4: 105-15, 2002 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12496741
ABSTRACT
Evolutionary psychologists often overlook a wealth of information existing between the proximate genotypic level and the ultimate phenotypic level. This commonly ignored level of biological organization is the ongoing activity of neurobiological systems. In this paper, we extend our previous arguments concerning strategic weaknesses of evolutionary psychology by advocating a foundational view that focuses on similarities in brain, behavior, and various basic psychological features across mammalian species. Such an approach offers the potential to link the emerging discipline of evolutionary psychology to its parent scientific disciplines such as biochemistry, physiology, molecular genetics, developmental biology and the neuroscientific analysis of animal behavior. We detail an example of this through our impending work using gene microarray technology to characterize gene expression patterns in rats during aggressive and playful social interactions. Through a focus on functional homologies and the experimental analysis of conserved, subcortical emotional and motivational brain systems, neuroevolutionary psychobiology can reveal ancient features of the human mind that are still shared with other animals. Claims regarding evolved, uniquely human, psychological constructs should be constrained by the rigorous evidentiary standards that are routine in other sciences.
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Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Psicologia
/
Neurociências
/
Evolução Biológica
/
Biologia Molecular
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Neuro Endocrinol Lett
Ano de publicação:
2002
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos