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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 interesting study that suggests that the use of mobile phones may make us less socially responsible.
Smartphones may make people selfish Here is some interesting information that can be used for the learning outcome "the interaction between physiology and cognition in terms of a cognitive process" (in this case memory), but also for the effect of the environment on one physiological process (in this case brain plasticity).
A study by Lazar has shown that the brain grows new connections in the prefrontal cortex through meditation. The study also showed that it improved attention and memory. It may be argued that because the person is improving his attention, also remembers more. How to get smarter, one breath at a time Another study by the University of Pennsylvania has shown that meditation may be a helpful technique for patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It is even possible that mediation may reverse memory loss. One possible reason for the effectiveness of meditation on memory is because it reduces stress, and stress impairs our memory through stress hormones that kill brain cells. By reducing the release of stress hormones you are also improving your brain functioning. Cerebral blood flow in subjects with memory loss: a preliminary study An easy meditation practice to reverse memory loss This is an interesting article on new research on the teenage brain:
What's wrong with the teenage mind? In this article, the author criticizes that we keep on adding hours for education when we actually should offer more apprenticeships for teenagers to be more prepared for adulthood (which, currently, they are not) Our culture may be the reason why so many young people are very knowledgeable but at the same time directionless. Another interesting finding is that teenagers care more for social rewards than adults, and that they overestimate rewards (winning and falling in love are creating stronger sensations in teenagers compared to adults) This is a new and interesting brain scan study that suggests that bilingualism may delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease:
Brain scans show bilingualism can delay Alzheimer's disease Here is a RSA animate on a lecture by Barbara Ehrenreich, the author of the book "Smile or die: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America". It may be used for criticism of the cognitive perspective.
RSA Animate - Smile or Die This activity is funny and can be used to demonstrate schema theory. Go the web page and scroll down to the last post:
http://9gag.com/hot/5138 This is a blog post, an article and a video clip on the "google effect" or "google amnesia", which relates to the effect of technology on our memory:
The google effect, blog post The google effect, article 2 + video |
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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