How the Wiring of Our Brains Shapes Who We Are - With Kevin Mitchell

Explore the fascinating science behind how brain wiring shapes individual identity in this 43-minute lecture from The Royal Institution. Delve into neuroscientist Kevin Mitchell's groundbreaking research on human diversity and individual differences stemming from brain development. Discover how variations in neural development link to adult psychology and behavior, and examine the potential impacts on personality, intelligence, and sexuality. Learn about early embryonic development, the genetic program for human brain formation, and the heritability of brain structural and functional connectivity. Investigate the role of intrinsic developmental variation, neuromodulators, and subjective experience in shaping our neural circuits. Gain insights into the complex interplay between genetics, brain development, and individual traits that make each person unique.

Intro
What makes you you?
And in the Physical Structures of our Brains
Differences Between Humans and Chimps
Early Embryonic Development
Brain Development
1000s of types of neurons
Organised into microcircuits
Connected into larger brain systems
Genetic Program for Making a Human Brain
Genes are physical stretches of DNA
Genes encode proteins
Proteins are molecular machines
Molecular Machinery: A Tour of the Protein Data Bank
Brain structure in twins
Can reconstruct tracts, examine connectivity
Heritability of Brain Structural Connectivity
Heritability of Functional Connectivity
Family environment has little effect on traits
Intrinsic Developmental Variation
Neuromodulators gate synaptic plasticity
Neuromodulator circuits differ between people
Subjective Experience Gates Plasticity
Genetic Effects on Experience