This is a new interesting project to map the brain, The Big Brain Project:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/352941
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This might be related to one of the principles of the biological level of analysis: the relevance of animal research. In 2009 a chimp in a Swedish zoo showed an ability to plan for the future by stockpiling rocks to throw at visitors.
Chimp throws rocks at zoo This article may be use for the learning outcomes genetic influences on behavior, effect of hormones on behavior and for dispositional explanations of altruism. A recent study suggests that disposition for niceness may be in our genes, as they code for oxytocin levels, which contributes to altruistic behavior.
Born nice? Niceness may reside in genes, study finds This article cites new research that suggests that coffee delays the onset of Alzheimer's disease. It can be related to the learning outcome on the effect of biological factors on cognitive processes. One should however be cautious with conclusions of this research. The relationship is mainly correlational, and we do not yet know the underlying biological processes of this relationship. In addition, coffee has many side effects such as increased blood pressure. As coffee is usually drunk in social or intellectual settings it may even be those factors that delay the onset of dementia. Coffee, however, does increase our altertness, which of course have a positive effect on our memory.
Coffee can cut Alzheimer's disease risk This is an article that cites research that shows that education is good for the brain. It may be used for the learning outcomes "the effect of environment on physiological processes" and the effect of social factors on cognitive processes (education on memory)
Keeping your brain sharp Here are some activities that can help you practise your brain as well Total recall Focus test This is an article on vitamin D (for the question "the effect of the environment on one physiological process)
Reasons why vitamin D may matter And here is more information on vitamin D: http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/nutrition/vitamin-d/overview.html This is an interesting article that suggests that reading fiction may improve our ability to emphatize with other people (Another example of neuroplasticity)
The neuroscience of your brain on fiction This made me remember a research study I read a long time ago that suggested a link between the increase in empathy in western society and the increase of reading and education in the 19th century. This is an interesting short movie about a love competition involving MRI scanning. The person who experiences most love sensations as measured by brain activity wins.
Stanford love competition This are the kind of research study that I want you to use for the ethical issue of confidentiality in genetic research. Life gene is a Swedish project which aims to build up a database to do research on the relationship between heredity, environment and lifestyle. Some people are doubtful about this, because it will lead to a register with private information about individuals which can be misused.
http://lifegene.ki.se/ |
AuthorThis is my class blog for IB Psychology. Here I will publish reflections on psychology, reviews of psychology books, recommended links, lecture notes, and information on psychology topics that are not covered by the syllabus. You are free to add comments or ask me questions. Archives
August 2015
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