Welcome to the Evolutionary Ecology of Health Research Labs, “Evo-Health Lab” for short.
Dr. Paul Andrews, Associate Professor Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University
Our research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of mental and physical health, as well as the accurate distinguishing between healthy and disordered states.
Don’t become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origins.
When serotonin, an important neurotransmitter in regulating major bodily functions, is perturbed by medications such as antidepressants, the effects on the human brain can be profound – and sometimes fatal.
To understand what behaviour is truly disordered, we must first understand the mechanisms of the human mind and body that evolved as adaptations. Only then will we understand the breakdowns of such mechanisms and the role they play in mental health.
In the Evo-Health lab, our students are encouraged to independently design and conduct original research projects of their own interest. Learn more about the qualities we look for in our students.