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Genes, epigenesis, age, diseases
ProtachaeopleryxA genome has many genes. Many features, such as dark or blue eyes are genetically determined and are fixed throughout life. In the course of evolution one sees wonderful adaptations to extreme conditions with impressive results. The gene selection changed under environmental influence. The pictures show examples of transitional forms of amphibians to birds. Because the 'institutions'  for reactions in humans can change, the behavior does change during the life within genetically-specified margins. Humans are more flexible during their own lifetime than most animals are. The experience of violence can change people, much meditation, hunger or overeating too. Many changes are independent of conscious will. They occur because the brain itself tries to adapt to changing circumstances. archaeopterix_pt

Deviant behavior patterns show what may occur in all people. Extreme conditions can lead to extreme changes in the brain and to behavioral impulses, that in the circumstances of later life do not come in handy. The younger these extreme conditions, the more defining they are for later life. Probably they can be stored in the genes (by soms kind of epigenetic proces). Psychiatric disorders and strongly from the average deviant behavior patterns, which are known to have their origin very early in life or are congenital, are likely to be reduced to extreme settings of the circuits, possibly in the inter-relationship of these circuits. The experience of extreme aggression in early childhood, neglect, have demonstrable effects on later behavior. Moreover these experiences tackle not necessarily bad, sometimes forcing to changes in the brains subsequently be viewed favorably. The past century has been much influenced by Freud, including much attention for what may happen in early childhood. The influence of conditions of the mother during pregnancy and the genetic predisposition, has been uderestimated in comparison with the attention to childhood (D. Swaab: Wij zijn ons brein).

Self influencing  the brain temporarily or for a long term
That the same substance, eg cocaine, is calming for an extremely busy person and gives unrest to a quiet person, can be explained by a difference in 'institutions' of the hormone systems. Receptors want to be filled with behaviors evoked by substances. Therefore psychoactive substances can replace addictive behavior which is normally turned on from the inside. This explains why sometimes opiates are used by persons with a tendency for psychosis as a kind self-medication. And why they are processed into medical drugs. New receptors can be formated by behavior and by signaling molecules for that behavior. In the sameway receptors can disappear. Sometimes one finds this desirable. Because a good dosage is desirable, it is right to consult a doctor, for it to be a genuine medicine.

The BBC documentary 'Living with ADHD shows two mothers with a busy ADHD-child. One of the mothers (in the picture with her two children) is also herself as busy as her child. She understands better than the other parent (without ADHD herself) that the child's behavior can not change and she therefore can more easily cope with the situation. The documentary says that she uses cocaine te get more quiet. She found out that psychoactive substances can help her.

People influence their own brain by multiple ways for example medications, therapies, education, yoga, etc.. Another example is an person who after a long flight resets his internal clock by not eating for a longer time than ususal.