The Week Ahead and News - UPDATED 10/28

News:::
1. First period will get their essays back Monday
2. Fourth period will get their essays back Wednesday
3. Expectations for tomorrow: step 1 should be done and some ideas for shaping
4. Podcast I will preview the quiz next week
5. Quiz questions have been identified, see below!

Monday (10/27)
Operant Conditioning
1. Work on projects -- class time!
HW: Work on Projects

Tuesday (10/28)
Operant Conditioning
1. Work on projects -- class time!
HW: FINALIZE project

Wednesday (10/29)
Operant Conditioning
1. Presentation of the projects
2. Notes on problems with punishment
HW: NONE

Thursday (10/30)
1. Skits: Problems with punishment
2. Depression: learned and biology of depression (discuss HW)
HW: HW: Read pages 196-199; complete JAS form
AND Review quiz questions: 1, 2,3, and 4 from page 154. Come with questions!

Friday (10/31)
Happy Halloween! -- bring your best scary story!
1. Phobias -- Video and Analysis
HW: Read pages 201-205 and complete JAS form

UPDATES/NEWS

I will be posting important updates and news within a couple of hours. STAY TUNED!

One of the best new Radiohead songs for sure. The first video for this song was made in the studio last New Year's Eve. If you like this song as much as I do, you should check it out. Very interesting to watch these guys play.


Forgetting easy when your brain fights itself
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - October 23, 2008

Oct. 23--Ever forget to drop off dry cleaning on the way to work? This minor error of memory may be evidence of two competing parts of the brain, one that harbors habits, and another involved in learning.

Driving to work is a habit; going to the dry cleaner is a comparatively novel task.

Dr. Christopher J. Pittenger, assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale, calls this symbolic lapse the "dry cleaning effect."

T h e w h i m s i -- c a l l a b e l e n c o m -- passes two o p p o s i n g brain systems that could lead t o n e w u n d e r -- standing of o b s e s s i v e compulsive disorder, drug addiction, and other disorders.

Pittenger and colleagues have demonstrated how these systems work in a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Pittenger, along with Yale researchers Anni S. Lee and Ronald S. Duman showed how mice respond to changes in the murine habit and spatial learning centers in their brains.

The striatum, in the middle of the brain, stores habits and acts like an autopilot. The hippocampus, a smaller structure beneath the striatum, handles new challenges.

"There are two processes to navigate through the world, literally and metaphorically," Pittenger said.

"I'm interested in things that we do automatically," he said. This automatic behavior is reflected in driving to work, versus driving somewhere strange, he said.

"I cannot remember to drop off the dry cleaning. It takes extra effort to get off autopilot," he said.

In this case, "autopilot" is the striatum guiding you to work or home, to the degree that when you arrive, you cannot remember the trip. Other examples ate walking, talking, riding a bicycle, using utensils, and other actions we accomplish without conscious thought.

The hippocampus comes into play when the brain is required to use spatial information in a new way, Pittenger said. Finding your way out of a forest with a compass is a job for the hippocampus.

Both systems function simultaneously.

Pittenger and colleagues presented mice with a pool of water containing a platform. The mice can be trained to find the platform, which becomes a habit encoded in the striatum.

When the striatum was disrupted, the mice lost their ability to quickly find the platform. However, the same mice improved on tasks involving spatial learning.

Conversely, when the hippocampus was disrupted, the mice could not navigate as well, but learned "landmark tasks," like the location of the platform, more quickly.

Pittenger said that obsessive compulsive disorder, some aspects of autism, and substance abuse, could be habit learning gone wrong.

Other problems might result when the striatum and hippocampus diverge. Alzheimer's disease rapidly damages the hippocampus, which is why patients often fall back on ingrained behaviors, he said.

"If the autopilot system is destructive, a novel system must be brought online," he said. For example, OCD is sometimes treated with cognitive behavioral therapy that helps patients recognize and change destructive "autopilot" thoughts.

"If we could understand these systems better, perhaps we could develop new tools to treat negative habits," Pittenger said.

Mom Can Increase Her Child's Risk of Depression via Nurture Alone

Science News - October 18, 2008

Some youngsters get depressed in the absence of any genetic legacy, a new investigation finds.

Researchers report that having a depressed mother substantially ups a teenager's likelihood of becoming depressed, even if he or she was adopted and shares no genes with the mother.

This finding provides the first direct evidence that purely environmental factors can promote depression in the children of depressed women, says a team led by psychologist Erin Tully of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

A depressed father does not increase the risk of depression in adopted or nonadopted teens, the team reports in the September American Journal of Psychiatry.

Two other investigations, both published in the same journal, further emphasize nurture's role in depression, showing that successful treatment of depressed mothers spurs emotional gains in their depressed children.

"There is an environmental liability of maternal depression that cannot be accounted for by genes but that almost certainly interacts with genetic factors to create depression risk in children," Tully says.

Depression can impair a mother's parenting skills, cause marital conflict and disrupt a youngster's ties to peers and school - and these outcomes can in turn spread depression from mother to child, she suggests.

A growing number of studies demonstrate difficulties that depressed mothers have in interacting with their children, remarks psychiatrist John Markowitz of Columbia University. Tally's study "bolsters the evidence that maternal, more than paternal, depression meaningfully affects children through home life, not just heritability," he says.

Tully and her coworkers studied 568 adopted adolescents, most from Asian countries, 416 non-adopted adolescents and one or both parents of all the children. Nearly all parents and non-adopted kids were white, and all the families lived in Minnesota. Most adoptions occurred before age 1.

Psychiatric interviews with the parents and teenagers probed for current and past symptoms of major depression and other psychological conditions.

While living with a depressed mother boosted the mood disorder's prevalence in adopted teens, non-adopted teens with depressed mothers were even more likely to become depressed. Having a depressed mother also increased the rate of behavior problems in both groups.

The Week Ahead

Monday (10/19)
The Learning Perspective
1. Overview of the Perspective (152-154 in Reader)
2. Discuss Plato and Locke (HW)
3. History and Assumptions of the Learning Perspective
--Notes
HW: Read page 164-165 in Reader come prepared to discuss

Tuesday (10/20)
1. Classical Conditioning
--Discuss Watson (HW)
--Demonstration
--Review page 172 in Reader
--Video clip: The Office
--Practice Classical Conditioning (page 177 in Reader)
HW: Read pages 166-170 in Reader, complete JAS form.

Wednesday (10/21)
1. Classical Conditioning
-- Discuss Watson (HW)
--Read pages 179-180 and take experimentation notes (hypothesis, methods, results, implications)
2. Learning: Video
HW: Read pages 173-176, complete JAS form.

Thursday (10/22)
1. Classical Conditioning
--Discuss Whitehead (HW)
2. Operant Conditioning
--Introduction
--Project (see page 181 in Reader)
---Sample: Pippin learns to rollover!
---Work on Project, Step 1 -- NOTE HELPFUL STUDIES
HW: Complete Step 1 of Operant Conditioning Project

Friday (10/23)
1. Operant Conditioning
--Continue project
HW: Complete Steps 1-3

The below video is one of my favorites for sure! The symbolism of the light and darkness is really well done! I have my own ideas, but how would you interpret it? What do you suppose the house means? The police car? The trees, etc.?

The Learning Perspective

Monday begins the Learning Perspective! This is an entirely new unit, it is the second unit in the course. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you establish a new set of notes etc. for this forthcoming information on learning psychology.

The Learning Perspective is all about how the environment influences/produces behavior. In the biological unit we focused on biological determinants/causes of behavior or the nature side of the interactionist coin. Now we turn our attention to the environment of nurture side of the interactionist coin. Topics will range from classical and operant conditioning to social and cognitive learning. We will also look at disorders such as phobias and depression.

We begin with a philosophical question: are we born with knowledge, or is all knowledge gained from the environment? The first reading is from Plato who argues that we are born with ALL knowledge! The second is from John Locke who argues we are born with NO knowledge! Consider both positions and come Monday ready to share your position and analysis!

Agenda:

Wednesday (10/15)

Socratic Seminar

HW: Read pages 155-163; answer questions on page 161 and the "Consider This" on page 163.

Other News:

Podcasts may start as soon as this Sunday night! Check back for updates!

Most kids get no therapy with antidepressants

At least half of U.S. children who take antidepressants aren't in therapy, a large study suggests, and that delays recovery while greatly increasing the number of kids on the medication who are suicidal.

"Therapy with antidepressants is the standard of care. But is it what's going on in the real world? No," says Sheila Marcus, child and adolescent psychiatry chief at the University of Michigan Medical School.

The report tracks insurance claims for antidepressants from a database of 6.8 million children and teens from 2002 to 2006. The analysis was done by the health care business of Thomson Reuters, a research firm.

In the six months after getting at least one new prescription for antidepressants in 2006, just over 40% of children had insurance claims for one or more therapy sessions, says Tami Mark, the Thomson study leader.

The Food and Drug Administration has put the strongest safety warning on antidepressants, saying they could increase suicidal behavior in people 24 or younger.

A government study last year found that depressed kids recover most rapidly with antidepressants and counseling that teaches problem-solving and stress management. Also, 15% of children on Prozac only were suicidal -- either thinking about killing themselves or trying to -- compared with 8% on Prozac plus therapy and 6% receiving therapy alone.

The low therapy-claim rates in the new study could be partly a result of some parents paying out-of-pocket or not taking children for counseling because of poor insurance coverage, Mark says.

A federal law passed last week requires employers with more than 50 workers to provide comparable benefits for mental health and medical care. "Lack of insurance has been a big barrier for kids with mental illness," she says.

There's also a great shortage of child psychiatrists, Marcus says.

Some children probably went off antidepressants because of side effects or because they improved, so they weren't referred for counseling, says Kevin Kalikow, a child psychiatrist in Mount Kisco, N.Y.

Many parents are embarrassed to take their kids for therapy, says Jana Martin, a child psychologist in Long Beach, Calif.

"If kids take a pill, the parents don't feel it's as bad a reflection on them. The pill helps, but if kids get bullied on the playground, it doesn't teach them how to respond and not get depressed, while therapy does. You can't go take another pill every time someone bullies you."

GRADES

The posted grades are those that will be posted for the progress report. WARNING: there are some of you who do not have work in and thus will receive a zero if the assignment is not to me BY MONDAY. After that day, no old assignment will be accepted with or without a stamp!

IF YOU DO NOT SHOW A GRADE FOR AN ASSIGNMENT, THAT WILL BECOME A ZERO MONDAY NIGHT!!!!!!

Grades

Stay tuned, eSIS will be updated tonight!

UPDATE

NEWS::::
Socratic Seminar Topics: - you will sign up for ONE Monday
1. Addiction: Is addiction a disease (Read pages SSB21-SSB8)
2. The Nature and Nurture of Homosexuality (Read pages 145-151)
3. Drugs and Intelligence: (Read pages 140-144)
EXTRA CREDIT MOVIE Dates:
1. Tuesday, October 14
2. Wednesday, October 15
3. Thursday, October 23
5. Friday, October 24

The Week Ahead
Monday (10/6)
Psychoactive Drugs
--Marijuana
---Notes
--Psychoactive Roundtable
HW: Read pages 130-134 in Reader

Tuesday (10/7)
Psychoactive Drugs
--Alcohol
---Notes/Video
HW: Read pages 135-139 in Reader

Wednesday (10/8)
Psychoactive Drugs
Addiction and Recovery
--Notes
--Video: Intervention: Alcohol
HW: Brain Map work OR NONE

Thursday (10/9)
Psychoactive Drugs
Wrap up of Biological Psychology and Psychoactive Drugs
HW: STUDY for Unit Exam

Friday (10/10)
NO SCHOOL! -- I will be at school and available for appointments

Monday (10/13)
Review for Biological Essay Exam
HW: STUDY!

Tuesday (10/14)
Biological Unit Essay Exam
HW: Socratic Seminar Readings (located in Reader): per selected topic (you will sign up for a topic in class)

Wednesday (10/15)
Socratic Seminar
HW: Read pages 155-163 in Reader AND respond to questions on page 161 and page 163 under 'Consider This'

Psychoactive Drug, Addiction, and Recovery Research

ROUNDTABLE: Psychoactive Drugs, Addiction, and Recovery:
Find an article regarding any psychoactive drug, addiction, or recovery. Read the article and write a one paragraph or more analytical response to the article. Be ready Monday to share your findings and analysis in a round table discussion.
Below is a list of links to sites that post news regarding psychoactive drugs and addiction:
New Scientist
NIDA
Medical News Today
The University of Utah
MayoClinic
TAVAD

The below video is pretty cool. Watch out! It can be disturbing...but it is so awesome! Enjoy

Twin Study Links Marijuana Abuse, Suicide, And Depression

Men and women who smoked marijuana before age 17 are 3.5 times as likely to attempt suicide as those who started later. Individuals who are dependent on marijuana have a higher risk than nondependent individuals of experiencing major depressive disorder and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The researchers who discovered these relationships, in a recent NIDA-funded large-scale epidemiological study, say that although the causes are not clear, their findings demonstrate the importance of considering associated mental health issues in the treatment and prevention of marijuana abuse.

Dr. Michael Lynskey and colleagues at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, gathered data from four groups of same-sex twin pairs (508 identical, 493 fraternal; 518 female, 483 male) enrolled in the Australian Twin Registry. The groups and findings were:

* Among the 277 pairs who were discordant for marijuana dependence (that is, one twin but not the other met the criteria for a diagnosis of marijuana dependence), the dependent twins were 2.9 times as likely as their nondependent co-twins to think about suicide without attempting it, and 2.5 times as likely to make a suicide attempt;
* Among the 311 pairs discordant for early marijuana initiation (just one twin in each pair smoked marijuana before age 17), the early initiators were 3.5 times as likely as their twins to attempt suicide, but no more likely to suffer a major depressive disorder (MDD);
* Among the 156 pairs discordant for diagnosis of MDD before age 17, fraternal but not identical twins with early diagnosis of MDD were 9.5 times as likely to develop marijuana dependence; and
* Among the 257 pairs discordant for having suicidal thoughts before age 17, fraternal but not identical twins with early suicidal thoughts were 5.5 times as likely as their twins to become dependent on marijuana.

"Overall, the associations between marijuana abuse and depressive disorders suggest a relationship that is contributory but not necessarily causal. Depressive disorders in and of themselves do not cause people to abuse marijuana, and marijuana abuse and dependence do not of themselves cause depression or suicidal behavior," Dr. Lynskey says. "Nevertheless, clinicians treating patients for one disorder should take the other into account at initial assessment and throughout treatment. In the context of treatment, both need to be addressed, because it is not necessarily the case that eliminating one disorder will get rid of the other." The fact that two of the relationships were observed in fraternal but not identical twins suggests that the experiences related in each—marijuana dependence and MDD, and marijuana dependence and suicidal thoughts—may share a common underlying genetic basis, notes Dr. Lynskey.

The associations identified in this study are complex, but point to a simple policy implication, observes Dr. Lynskey. "It is important to see that prevention efforts aimed at one disorder may well have the additional benefit of preventing or reducing the other," he says.

"Drug abuse and depression co-occur at rates much greater than chance and constitute a serious public health concern," says Dr. Naimah Weinberg of NIDA's Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research. "Understanding how each disorder may contribute to the development and course of the other, and what factors may underlie their co-occurrence, has important implications for prevention and treatment of these disabling conditions. Genetic epidemiologic approaches, such as those applied by Dr. Lynskey and his colleagues, are very powerful tools to help parse out the etiologic relationships between co-occurring disorders."

Source

• Lynskey, M.T., et al. Major depressive disorder, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt in twins discordant for cannabis dependence and earlyonset cannabis use. Archives of General Psychiatry 61(10):1026-1032, 2004. [Abstract]

Cannabis use increases risk of psychotic illness

The below article reports on the correlation between marijuana use and psychotic illness with a special focus on schizophrenia. See also the NIDA for more information on what is known about the use of marijuana. Much of this information we will cover inclass later this week and next. Click here for more information on this issue and other information on marijuana from the NIDA web site.

Researchers say they have the strongest evidence yet that using cannabis increases the risk of later developing psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia.

On average, cannabis smokers have a 41% greater chance of suffering from such disorders than those who didn't inhale, the new study finds. And the likelihood increases with increasing cannabis use, with heavy users - who smoke daily - three times as likely as non-users to develop psychotic illnesses.

Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world. In the UK and the US, for example, around 40% of young adults have used cannabis, according to government research.

Previous research has suggested a link between cannabis and schizophrenia-like symptoms such as paranoia, hearing voices and seeing things that are not there. But the possible association "has been an issue of tremendous debate and controversy for a long time", says Rick Rawson, a professor at the University of California in Los Angeles, US. "The science gets all mixed together with all the ideological views [about the drug]."

Now, researchers in the UK have reviewed 35 studies on the long-term effects of cannabis use in Europe, the US and Australasia and say the drug does in fact appear to be linked with an increased risk of psychosis. The original studies lasted from one to 27 years.

Causal link?

Because people with pre-existing mental health problems may be more likely to take drugs in the first place, the researchers excluded data from those already showing signs of psychotic illness. Still, they found an increased incidence of psychosis in cannabis users, suggesting the drug may somehow cause such disorders, they say.

"Although you cannot be certain that the cannabis is causing this increase in risk, we think there is enough evidence to warn people," team member Glyn Lewis of the University of Bristol in the UK told New Scientist.

If cannabis does cause psychosis, it could account for at least one in every seven cases of diagnosed psychotic illness, the researchers say.

"There is a very good reason to be concerned," says Shaul Hestrin of Stanford University in California, US, who is investigating how cannabinoids affect brain cells. He says the evidence of a causal link in this latest study is "very convincing" but adds that even better evidence may come once scientists understand how cannabis actually changes the brain.

Rawson agrees: "The big question is how to determine who's at risk."

The British government is now reviewing the classification of cannabis, which is currently a Class C drug. It may be reclassified as Class B, which means users could begin to do jail time for possession.

"Clearly the health risks are only some of the factors that are taken into account when people consider the legal classification of drugs," Lewis says. This latest study was funded by the UK Department of Health, and Lewis said the results have been given to the UK Home Office.

Journal reference: The Lancet (vol 370, p 319).

Biological Psychology Essay Options

The following questions are eligible for the Biological Psychology Unit Essay Exam:
From page 38:
Questions: 2, 3, and 4

This is your brain on food

Study: Kids, this is your brain on food: U. research has implications for early intervention in mental illness and for treatment of juvenile offenders
The Salt Lake Tribune - September 26, 2008

Sep. 26--In adolescents, food engages the primal brain, a lower part of the cerebrum associated with immediate gratification and base urges.

But in adults, food experiences appear to trigger more nuanced responses in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that processes abstract thought associated with long-term goals, according to a neuroscientist with the University of Utah's Brain Institute.

It's more evidence that adolescent brains are still developing, which holds implications for early intervention in mental illness and for treatment of juvenile offenders.

"The adolescent brain responds differently to these rewarding cues than the adult brain," said Deborah Yurgelun-Todd, who uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study how stimuli affect brain activity, measured in terms of blood flow around the 3-pound organ.

Yurgelun-Todd presented her findings Thursday at the inaugural Lunch with Leo, a new lecture series The Leonardo will host with the Utah Science, Technology and Research initiative. USTAR recruited Yurgelun-Todd, a 25-year veteran of psychiatric research, to lead the U.'s Cognitive Neuroimaging Center with her husband Perry Renshaw.

Yurgelun-Todd's work has been cited in Supreme Court arguments backing elimination of the death penalty for teens and is used by the Indiana juvenile justice system to reduce teen recidivism.

"The more we carry out this research the more we realize the brain is plastic, undergoing change throughout the lifetime," she said, noting that there is a general consensus that the brain reaches "adult" maturity around age 25.

The human brain reaches full size around age 5, but the organ keeps changing.

"The volume of the brain might not change but there is substantial remodeling during adolescence," Yurgelun-Todd said. It's that remodeling that her research seeks to understand.

For the food study, researchers put healthy people, both adolescents and adults who had no first-degree relatives with psychiatric disorders, into an MRI machine. They recorded changes in brain activity while exposing the subjects to 30-second glimpses of food and non-food images.

The results were clear: Adolescents' responses to food were strictly subcortical. This suggests youngsters' reward systems remain relatively unformed, which makes it harder if not impossible for them to understand long-term goals.

"Reward is incredibly important in goal-directed behavior. If your reward system is driving you to the extent that your inhibitions can't control impulse, you won't be able to control short-term gratification in favor of long-term goals," Yurgelun-Todd said.

The Week Ahead: Psychoactive Drugs

Monday (9/29)
Psychoactive Drugs
-Pre-frontal Cortex - Video
-Notes: Introduction and The Stimulation of the Brain
-HW: Add bio of memory to brain map (brain map will be turned in with notes for the unit essay exam)

Tuesday (9/30)
Psychoactive Drugs
--Stimulants: cocaine
---Notes and Video clips
HW: Read pages 118-122 in Reader

Wednesday (10/1)
Psychoactive Drugs
--Stimulants: cocaine
---Notes
--Stimulants: Methamphetamines
---Notes and videos
HW: NONE!

Thursday (10/2)
Psychoactive Drugs
-Stimulants: Methamphetamines
---Notes/Videos
HW: Handout: Marijuana

Friday (10/3)
Psychoactive Drugs
--Marijuana
---Notes and Video
HW: Read pages 130-134 in Reader take notes on studies and affects/effects of LSD

Monday (10/6)
Psychoactive Drugs
--Hallucinogens: Ecstasy & LSD
---Notes and Review HW
--Alcohol
---Notes/Video clips
HW: Read pages 135-139 in Reader

Tuesday (10/7)
Psychoactive Drugs
--Antidepressants
---Notes
Addiction and Recovery
HW: Handout/TBA

Wednesday (10/8)
Psychoactive Drugs
Addiction and Recovery
--Video: Intervention
HW: 'Reflective Psychological Response' to episodes seen in Intervention

Thursday (10/9)
Psychoactive Drugs
--Addiction (video)
--Review/Round table talk on drug use and abuse
HW: STUDY for Unit Exam

Friday (10/10)
NO SCHOOL! -- I will be at school and available for appointments

Monday (10/13)
Review for Biological Essay Exam
HW: STUDY!

Tuesday (10/14)
Biological Unit Essay Exam
HW: Socratic Seminar Readings (located in Reader): per selected topic (you will sign up for a topic in class)

Wednesday (10/15)
Socratic Seminar
HW: Read pages 155-163 in Reader AND respond to questions on page 161 and page 163 under 'Consider This'

UPDATES 9/25: 11PM

There is NO homework over the weekend! You have earned a break!

Homeland Security Detects Terrorist Threats by Reading Your Mind

Most preventive screening looks for explosives or metals that pose a threat. But a new system called MALINTENT turns the old school approach on its head. This Orwellian-sounding machine detects the person — not the device — set to wreak havoc and terror.

MALINTENT, the brainchild of the cutting-edge Human Factors division in Homeland Security's directorate for Science and Technology, searches your body for non-verbal cues that predict whether you mean harm to your fellow passengers.

Child development key to economic growth

I don't know who this baby is, but he means business

Shonkoff said decades of scientific research has found that early life experiences get hard-wired into the brain. The studies have found that children who undergo high levels of stress at an early age generally have encountered problems later in life. Using charts and graphs, Shonkoff showed that children from less economically secure families learn at slower rates than those who are more fortunate and that it was difficult to reverse the pattern once it is established.

The Week Ahead: Biology of Memory and Learning

Monday (9/22)
1. Discuss HW/Mirror Neurons
2. Video: Secrets of the Mind - (finish)
HW: Read pages 97-101 in Reader; take notes on Lashley's search for the Engram AND The Modern Search for the Engram, make special note of Thompson's research.

Tuesday (9/23)
1. Neurology Demonstrations (x2)
2. The Biology of Learning and Memory
--Discuss HW
--Videos: biology of memory and learning -- a series of short studies
HW: Read pages 101-108 in Reader take notes on:
Hebb's work and theories (page 101-103)
The role of the amygdala in memory - (page 104) - and note LaBar & Phelps, 1998
Case study: H.M. (pages 105-108
--note the kinds of memory he has and does not have or appears to lack
Tranel & Damasio, 1997 - (page 108)

Wednesday (9/24)
1. Discuss HW/Biology of Learning and Memory
2. Video: Remembering and Forgetting - Zimbardo
HW: Read pages 108-114 in Reader and note the following:
Maguire, Frackowiak, & Frith, 2000
Korsakoff's Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease - take only general notes here

Thursday (9/25)
1. Discuss HW/Biology of Learning and Memory
2. Read pages 72 & 75 in Reader and complete JAS for notes - discuss in class
3. Review for Quiz
HW: NONE! Study for Quiz 1

Friday (9/26)
1. Quiz 1
2. Psychoactive Dugs and Addiction
--Notes
HW: Read pages 115-122 in Reader and take general notes on the topic of psychoactive drugs and the brain-behavior relationship and types of psychoactive drugs -- do not take excessive notes here, we will be spending a great deal of time in class taking notes on psychoactive drugs. Treat this as a brief introduction.

Quiz 1: Biological Psychology: The Brain and Neurology

Quiz 1: Eligible Questions for Quiz 1 -- (see page 38 of Reader)

Quiz Questions (Part A questions)

Question 1

Question 2

Question 5

See page 40 for a general outline for essays. The quiz is 45 minutes in length and MUST be focused on research with respect to the question. See page 529 for the IB scoring rubric (how I will grade your essay). The essay is worth 50 points

Post questions here, e-mail me (fcaro@ttsd.k12.or.us), see me before and/or after school and/or during lunch. Also, feel free to schedule an appointment.

Video: Ambulance LTD: Heavy Lifting

Political views 'all in the mind'

Scientists studying voters in the US say our political views may be an integral part of our physical makeup.
Their research, published in the journal Science, indicates that people who are sensitive to fear or threat are likely to support a right wing agenda.
Those who perceived less danger in a series of images and sounds were more inclined to support liberal policies.
The authors believe their findings may help to explain why voters' minds are so hard to change.
In the study, conducted in Nebraska, 46 volunteers were first asked about their political views on issues ranging from foreign aid and the Iraq war to capital punishment and patriotism.
Those with strong opinions were invited to take part in the second part of the experiment, which involved recording their physiological responses to a series of images and sounds.
The images included pictures of a frightened man with a large spider on his face and an open wound with maggots in it. The subjects were also startled with loud noises on occasion.

Friday and Monday

Agenda for Friday (9/19)
1. Discuss Rosenzweig's research
2. Video: Secrets of the Mind
HW: Read pages 92-96 in Reader; takes notes on what mirror neurons are and the following studies: -- these are short in mention
Rizzolatti, Gallese, and Fogassi (page 93)
Iacoboni and Arbib and the above team (see page 94)
Rizzolatti and Arbib, 1998 (see page 94)
Gallese and Rizzolatti, 2005 (see page 94)
Iacoboni, 2005 (see page 94)
Wicker, 2003 (page 95)
Harvard Medical School study (page 95)
Ramachandran (page 96)


Monday (9/22)
1. Discuss Mirror Neurons
2. Video: Secrets of the Mind
HW: Read pages 97-101 in Reader; take notes on Lashley's search for the Engram AND The Modern Search for the Engram, make special note of Thompson's research.

Rationalization is a Freudian Defense Mechanism

Friday AM Alerts

1. For those students who will be gone Friday, I will post what studies to take notes on in the mirror neuron article Friday AM. I would do it tonight but I left my Reader at school. Sorry!

2. I will post on the blog the three essay options for Quiz 1 which will take place next Friday (9/26).

Laughter linked to increased productivity

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News Online - September 17, 2008

A researcher has discovered that positive humour in the workplace can lead to greater job satisfaction.

Psychologist Maren Rawlings from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne surveyed 300 workers from 20 different countries about their use of humour and how they perceived the humour used by their colleagues.

Ms Rawlings says she found a direct correlation between the climate of good humour in a workplace and employee satisfaction.

"If there is a lot of good humour that is shared and supports others...then people are generally well satisfied with what they are doing," she said.

Ms Rawlings says previous research has linked job satisfaction with productivity and her findings contradict the misconception that people who enjoy themselves in the workplace are not as productive.

She says it is important for employers to recognise the role humour plays in keeping workers satisfied.

"If employers take measures to encourage a positive humour climate in the workplace, they are more likely to retain their staff," she said.

"And with an ageing workforce it is vital for companies to keep good people."

Ms Rawlings will present her findings at the Australian Psychological Society's annual conference in Hobart later this month.

See http://www.abc.net.au

Eating veggies shrinks the brain

MELBOURNE: Scientists have discovered that going veggie could be bad for your brain-with those on a meat-free diet six times more likely to suffer brain shrinkage.

Vegans and vegetarians are the most likely to be deficient because the best sources of the vitamin are meat, particularly liver, milk and fish. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause anaemia and inflammation of the nervous system. Yeast extracts are one of the few vegetarian foods which provide good levels of the vitamin.

The link was discovered by Oxford University scientists who used memory tests, physical checks and brain scans to examine 107 people between the ages of 61 and 87.

When the volunteers were retested five years later the medics found those with the lowest levels of vitamin B12 were also the most likely to have brain shrinkage. It confirms earlier research showing a link between brain atrophy and low levels of B12.

Brain scans of more than 1,800 people found that people who downed 14 drinks or more a week had 1.6% more brain shrinkage than teetotallers. Women in their seventies were the most at risk.

Beer does less damage than wine according to a study in Alcohol and Alcoholism.

Researchers found that the hippocampus-the part of the brain that stores memories - was 10% smaller in beer drinkers than those who stuck to wine.

And being overweight or obese is linked to brain loss, Swedish researchers discovered. Scans of around 300 women found that those with brain shrink had an average body mass index of 27 And for every one point increase in their BMI the loss rose by 13 to 16%.

Taken from the Times of India

Brain Matures a Few Years Late in ADHD, But Follows Normal Pattern

In youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the brain matures in a normal pattern but is delayed three years in some regions, on average, compared to youth without the disorder, an imaging study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has revealed. The delay in ADHD was most prominent in regions at the front of the brain’s outer mantle (cortex), important for the ability to control
thinking, attention and planning. Otherwise, both groups showed a similar back-to-front wave of brain maturation with different areas peaking in thickness at different times...Click text for full article.

Below: Split Brain video clip: check out the soundtrack here...good stuff.

The Week Ahead: 9/15 - 9/19

Monday (9/15)
1. Biological Psychology: the brain
--Localization of Function
---Demonstration - the hemispheres
---Notes
2. Discuss HW/Brain Map
3. Introduce and Explain J.A.S. form
HW: Read pages 62-67 in Reader and complete JAS form

Tuesday (9/16)
1. Regional Brain Damage

--Video: Phineas Gage

2. Brain Damage: split brains!
--Discuss HW
--Video: split brain
3. The Brain
--Video - let's welcome Zimbardo!
HW: Read pages 77-84 in Reader and take notes on studies and sex differences (add information to brain map) - try the Notes Form

Wednesday (9/17)
1. Discuss HW: the male and female brain
2. Secrets of the Mind - video - (case studies)
HW: Read pages 85-91 in Reader and take notes on studies

Thursday (9/18)
1. Discuss HW: the maternal brain
2. The Environment and the Brain
--The Responsive Brain - video - KEY VIDEO!
3. The Environment and Neurology
--Review basic neurology
--Demonstration
HW: Read pages 68-71 in Reader and complete the JAS form

Friday (9/19)
1. Discuss HW: experience and the brain
2. Running enhances neurogenesis, learning, and long-term potential - Reader page 72-76 JAS form
3. Identify Quiz 1 questions
HW: Read pages 92-96 in Reader and take notes on studies

Friday!

Have a great weekend. Check back Sunday night for news and updates!

Study: 70,000 may suffer post-9/11 stress disorder

Associated Press - September 11, 2008

NEW YORK - New data from a public health registry that tracks the health effects of 9/11 suggest that as many as 70,000 people may have developed post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the terrorist attacks.

The estimate, released Wednesday by New York City's Department of Health, is based on an analysis of the health of 71,437 people who enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry. They agreed to be tracked for up to 20 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and the study was based on answers they volunteered about their health two and three years after the attack.

Of the estimated 400,000 people believed to have been heavily exposed to pollution from the disaster, data suggests that 35,000 to 70,000 people developed PTSD and 3,800 to 12,600 may have developed asthma, city health officials said.

They include rescue and recovery workers, lower Manhattan residents, area workers, commuters and passers-by.

Overall, half of the respondents said they had been in the dust cloud from the collapsing towers; 70 percent witnessed a traumatic sight, such as a plane hitting the tower or falling bodies; and 13 percent sustained an injury that day.

"The consensus among physicians is that when it comes to physical health, the vast majority of people felt symptoms in the first year," said Lorna Thorpe, the deputy commissioner for epidemiology at the New York City Health Department. "A small proportion of people, however, developed symptoms years later. And in some cases, it's hard to tell whether they're World Trade Center-related or a result of allergies or existing conditions."

The post-traumatic stress disorder rate was highest among injured, low-income and Hispanic study volunteers. In general, minorities and low-income respondents experienced higher rates of mental and physical problems, as did women.

The study was conducted by the city health department and the federal Centers for Disease Control's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. It was released in the Journal of Urban Health.

The city offers free physical and mental health care to eligible people affected by the attacks.

Sex differences seen in response to common antidepressant

Women with depression may be much more likely than men to get relief from a commonly used, inexpensive antidepressant drug, a new national study finds. But many members of both sexes may find that it helps ease their depression symptoms (see also University of Michigan Health System).

The persistence of a gender difference in response to the drug even after the researchers accounted for many complicating factors suggests that there's a real biological difference in the way the medication affects women compared with men. The reasons for that difference are still unclear, but further studies are now examining hormonal variations that may play a role.

Click to Read More...

Here is a video from Fischerspooner:

Exciting New Technology!

See what science can do for humanity!

Essay Help

Tips for writing essays

Brain pacemakers give jolt to hard-to-treat illnesses

Chicago Tribune - September 08, 2008

Sep. 8--Every day during a four-year deep depression, Sean Miller thought of ending his life. Nothing relieved the emotional darkness--not therapy, not medication, not loving attention from family and friends.

Then doctors in Toronto implanted electrodes in his brain and switched on an electrical current, and everything changed. Within a month, hope began to flicker. Within six months, Miller felt normal again.

"It's a miracle," said Miller, 41.

Actually, the credit goes to scientists' growing understanding of the electrical architecture of the brain--a vast, complex network of circuits that record and relay information--and a technique that offers new hope to people with treatment-resistant illnesses.

Deep brain stimulation, the treatment Miller received, employs electricity to jolt the brain in pinpointed locations. Already in use to treat Parkinson's disease, the therapy is being tested in Chicago for patients with severe depression, chronic pain and epilepsy and elsewhere for people with obsessive compulsive disorder, traumatic brain injuries and Alzheimer's disease.

Case Study: Genie

Clip 1:


Clip 2:


We will watch this documentary in its entirety this January for a special socratic seminar. Please post your reactions to the case!

Musical tastes reveal who you are says British study

London (dpa) - A British study investigating the link between musical tastes and personality has found that classical music listeners and heavy metal fans share vital character traits such as creativity and shyness.

The research, published Friday by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, asked 36,000 music lovers worldwide to list their favourite music and give brief descriptions of their personalities in what is believed to be the largest such study ever undertaken.

It was led by Adrian North, head of the university's department of applied psychology, who said he had been "surprised" by some of the results.

"One of the most surprising things is the similarities between fans of classical music and heavy metal. They're both creative and at ease but not outgoing," said North.

"The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidally depressed and of being a danger to themselves and society in general. But they are quite delicate things."

According to North, heavy metal and classical fans are united by a "shared love of the grandiose," which meant that a "Metallica fan is more likely to listen to Mahler than an indie kid is to give reggae a try."

"Aside from their age difference, they are basically same kind of person."

Fans of indie music were found to have low self-esteem and little motivation, while rap enthusiasts "tend to think a lot about themselves and are extremely outgoing" and country and western fans were outgoing and hard-working.

Those who love dance and music were extrovert but "more likely to be unfriendly and slightly self-centred."

According to the study, blues and jazz lovers have generally high self-esteem, are creative, outgoing and at ease - traits they share with rock'n'roll fans who were, however, "not very kind or generous."

North suggested that the results explained why "so many people bond over music because it is "profoundly linked to the person we are."

What do you think? Is this research valid?

The below is a great video and song! Check it out, very interesting use of light and liquid. The director (Jaron Albertin) has made several very cool videos (one I will feature for Freud for extra credit analysis!)

The Week Ahead: 9/8 - 9/12

Every Sunday night I will post the week's agenda. Any given day's agenda is subject to change! So please check back to confirm when in question. And of course e-mail me with any questions.

Monday (9/8)
1. Get textbooks
2. Stamp HW - (Descartes)
3. What is Psychology
-- Notes
4. Problem One: Mind Body Problem
-- Notes (with demonstration) and Video Clip: the Replicant
--Discuss Mind-Body debate
5. Problem Two: Free Will vs. Determinism
--Notes
HW: Respond to pages 23-24 in the Reader -- using a separate sheet of paper or tear the page out. Use pages 12-14 as a reference

Tuesday (9/9)
1. Problem Two (continued): Free Will vs. Determinism
--Notes
--Discuss HW
2. Problem Three: Nature vs. Nurture
--Notes
3. Case Study: Genie - Video

--Discussion - connect to the three philosophical questions
HW: Reading: read pages 25-28 in Reader and respond to questions on page 25

Wednesday (9/10)
1. Research Methods in Psychology
--Discuss HW
--Review primary methods and terms
--Group Activity: designing research (page 30 in Reader)
HW: Reading from textbook pages 37-40 AND 44-46 AND 53-58 in the TEXTBOOK!

Thursday (9/11)
1. Biological Perspective (start of the first perspective)
--Preview of topics and essay questions (pages 34-41 in Reader)
--History and Assumptions
---Notes
2. The Brain: mapping the brain and the concept of localization of function
HW: Continue work on your brain map (due: Monday: 9/15) AND Read pages 42-50 in Reader and take notes on terms and references to studies

Friday (9/12)
1. Biological Perspective
--Discuss HW
--Video clips on brain damage: Phineas Gage
--Continue work with the Brain Map (using pages 51-60 in Reader)
HW: Finish Brain Map

Welcome to the Weekend

This is a great track from Joy Division. Ian Curtis (lead singer) had a crazy way of dancing! Enjoy!

The Study of Psychology

9/05: Friday

1. Questions about the class or what will be studied?
2. Collect student information/feedback sheets
3. Evaluating common sense psychology - handout
4. Distribute the Readers and walk through its contents
5. What is Psychology? - (Notes)
   
6. Philosophical Problem I: the mind-body problem - (Notes)
   
1. Video clip: Blade Runner

HW: Read pages 15-22 in the Reader; respond to questions on page 22 (always in complete sentences)***This reading is very different from 99% of the readings in this class so please do not panic if you find this reading extremely difficult...it is! But try to really digest it! It should prove to be very interesting. I am really looking forward to getting your reaction to the reading on Monday!

The below clip is a classic scene from the movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey. One major question proposed by the film is of artificial intelligence. More specifically, to what extent can a machine/computer have a mind? If the mind is nothing different from the brain, then such a computer is completely possible. The below scene has Dave trying to turn off/kill the computer (known as HAL).





And now for the news:

1. Looking for the Perfect Partner? Then Just Take a Good Look at Your Parents
2. Pa. mom, free after killings: 'I am not a monster'
3. Mental Illness, Northern Uganda Tops Worldwide [analysis]
4. Weight-based bias in workplace a big problem
5. Suicide in Asian Americans

Welcome to IB Psychology!

Thursday/September 4/Day 1
Agenda

1. Introduction to the Course
1. Syllabus & iMovie of the course overview
2. Questioning Psychology

Check back here frequently for the class agenda/lesson plans, news, photos, videos, etc.

Last Days of Summer

Well the end is near. Although the summer is drawing to a close, I am very excited about this year's IB Psychology course! Every year I try to make the course better so I hope this is the best IB Psychology yet! There will be many new topics, units, and hopefully enjoyable assignments and readings! Please e-mail me with any questions, comments, suggestions, etc.! I welcome them ALL!

I am most excited, however, to get to know all of you!

So for now, make the most of these final days of summer!

Cheers!
Caro

ALERT!

Red Bull puts heart at risk, says study

A single can of energy drink Red Bull could raise the risk of a heart attack and stroke, researchers claim.

An Australian study found the sugar free version of the caffeine-loaded beverage causes the blood to become sticky and increases the chance of a life threatening clot.

Updates!

Here are some interesting new studies in psychology:

Parents' Expectations, Styles Can Harm College Students' Self-Esteem

Stress boosts allergies, study finds

Whales mourn if a family member is taken: scientists

Dogs' yawns could be sign of empathy, research shows: Picking up on social cues

On the Road

I am hitting the big wide open road! I will be on the grid (Internet) as I can. Cheers!

Cancer chief sees cell phone risks

The director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Centers plans to issue an advisory to about 3,000 faculty and staff today about the possible health risks associated with cellular phone use.

Psychology News:::

Next week look for new postings on mrcaro.com's psychology web site (http://www.mrcaro.com/psychology/).
Psychology Headlines:
Girls close math gap
Girls and boys are now performing equally on standardized high school math tests across North America, ending a "gender gap" that lasted for decades, new research says.

• How Breast Feeding Triggers a Bond with Babies
• Background TV disrupts toddler play
• War diminishes moral reasoning in children: They are more likely to condone violence if it is retaliatory, authors of the research find

A World Of 'Pushy Parents'

The Hartford Courant, Connecticut - July 10, 2008

Jul. 10--What's wrong with parents today?

We try too hard. We are so anxious for our children to be successful, to be good athletes or musicians, to get into good colleges and to have good careers and to be happy that we overreach and plant the seeds of incompetence, frustration, unhappiness, even mental and emotional disorders.

Schools should teach teens, tweens about abuse

Schools should teach teens, tweens about abuse
Associated Press - July 08, 2008

WASHINGTON - Schools should educate teenagers - and even children as young as 11 - about abusive dating situations, say teen health and safety advocates and state attorneys general.

"Information, education is empowerment," Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch said at a news conference Tuesday, describing what he called "this plague that people aren't really talking enough about, which is young people being victimized by domestic violence."

Lynch co-sponsored a resolution adopted at the June meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General, encouraging states to work with school districts to educate teens in health classes about abusive dating relationships. The resolution notes that these problematic relationships can have elements of verbal, emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse.

Ann Burke, a health educator whose daughter died as a result of an abusive relationship, said, "The topic of teen dating violence is no different than any other topic we teach in school."

Lindsay Ann Burke was 23 when she died. A Rhode Island law named in her honor requires all school districts to educate seventh through 12th grade students about abusive dating relationships and to have policies that address abusive incidents that occur at school.

"So few of our tweens, and teens for that matter, understand what a healthy relationship looks like," said Dr. Elizabeth Miller, an assistant professor of pediatrics at University of California Davis School of Medicine. She added that many young people "assume the emotional control, the jealousy, possessiveness, all of that is just part of relationships, and we need to change that conversation."

Your Brain Lies to You It's True

False beliefs are everywhere. Eighteen percent of Americans think the sun revolves around the earth, one poll has found. Thus it seems slightly less egregious that, according to another poll, 10 percent of us think that Senator Barack Obama, a Christian, is instead a Muslim. The Obama campaign has created a Web site to dispel misinformation. But this effort may be more difficult than it seems, thanks to the quirky way in which our brains store memories - and mislead us along the way.

Facebook Concepts Indicate Brains of Alzheimer's Patients Aren't as Networked, Stanford Study Shows

STANFORD, Calif., Jun 26, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- This is your brain on Facebook. Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine used concepts borrowed from the popular social networking site to analyze the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. They found that patients' brains were less well-connected than the brains of people without the disorder.

Study: One in Five Vets Has 'Invisible Wounds'

National Guard - June 24, 2008

Originally Published:20080501.

Nearly 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depression, according to an independent study released April 17.

As many or more have possible brain injuries from explosion or other head wounds, said the study, the first major survey from outside the military.

Military officials said the report by the RAND Corporation, "The Invisible Wounds of War," helps clarify mental health hurdles the Defense Department is seeking to overcome.

"We're on a journey, and we've come a long way, ... but we've got a long way to go," said Col. Loree Sutton, chief of the newly created Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. "That's why we're so thankful to teams like the RAND team that have stepped up and helped us better understand our challenges."

Sutton called it "heartening" that the RAND report's conclusions are "very consistent" with previous studies by the Army's Mental Health Advisory Team and other published results.

RAND found that only about half of those reporting symptoms actually seek treatment.

For those who do seek help, only about half receive treatment that researchers consider "minimally adequate," the report stated.

"Clearly, that's a finding that concerns us," Sutton said.

One reason many troops avoid psychological treatment, the RAND report says, is because they fear it will harm their careers.

More funding for PTSD and traumatic brain injury research and treatment is a continuing NGAUS legislative priority.

Previous studies have indicated that reserve-component personnel are more likely to report mental health symptoms than their active-component counterpart.

But they are less likely to have access to treatment, especially those residing in rural locations.

---

This news story is not produced by the American Psychological Association and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the association.

PsycPORT® is a product of the American Psychological Association created to provide quick access to mass-media information related to psychology.
®2008 American Psychological Association
Last updated: 06/26/2008 - 12:02 PM

Thanks Girls!

Developmental Psychology News:
When there are enough girls in the preschool classroom, boys get a developmental boost

BUSTED: The Not-So-Lost Tribe

The Not-So-Lost Tribe

by Mike Krumboltz

June 23, 2008 06:09:40 PM

Even in an age when cynical sleuths can hyper-analyze stories for truth and accuracy, the occasional hoax still slips through the cracks. Such was the case with a so-called "lost Amazon tribe."

A few months ago, mainstream news outlets (including, ahem, Yahoo!) reported that a photographer had found a lost tribe of warriors near the Brazilian-Peruvian border. Photos of the tribe backed up his claim.

As it turns out, the story is only half true. The men in the photo are members of a tribe, but it certainly ain't "lost." In fact, as the photographer, José Carlos Meirelles, recently explained, authorities have known about this particular tribe since 1910. The photographer and the agency that released the pictures wanted to make it seem like they were members of a lost tribe in order to call attention to the dangers the logging industry may have on the group.

The photographer recently came clean, and news outlets, perhaps embarrassed at having been taken for a ride, have been slow to pick up the story. Now, the word is starting to spread and articles in the Buzz are picking up steam. Expect a lot more brutal truth in the coming days.

Gattaca: Another film for movie night of IB Psychology this Fall

Built to Spill - "Third Uncle" Brian Eno Cover

This was great live!

Portland: Ground Zero of The Meth Epidemic

A growing epidemic to be sure. We will be covering psychoactive drugs in great detail next fall. One important documentary we will watch clips from is Frontline's research on the meth epidemic. Here is a brief preview. To watch the video in its entirety, click here!

IB Psychology Extra Credit Movie Nights: Coming Fall 2008

Once a month (or so) I will show a movie or an excellent documentary after school for extra credit! Here is a preview of one of the movies!
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind:

MrCaro.com's Fourth Generation Coming Soon!

mrcaro.com will be updated and revised for the 2008-2009 year! Send me any recommendations and suggestions!

Cheers!

Exhausted

Check back for news, updates to mrcaro.com, and information about IB Psychology for next year!

Congratulations Seniors!

Fear, Courage, and Compassion
Don't allow fear to guide you
Be courageous always
Allow compassion to guide you
Hold debts against others never