I chose this article because the concept of memory really interests me. I often have trouble remembering important things like people's names and special dates, and this study helped me to see the importance of sleep (something I don't get a lot of lately!) Our textbook discusses sleep in Chapter 4, pages 131-135. On page 140, the activation-synthesis hypothesis suggests this same type of REM dream mode: the consolidation of thoughts while dreaming.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
In the Time Magazine article "Behavior: Sleep for the Memory" the author suggests that sleep is essential for humans to create memories. According to research, REM sleep is vital not only for memory creation, but also for coping with daily stress. Researchers found that people who watched very distressing movies during the day had an increase in REM sleep at night, indicating that sleep served as a coping response. Scientists believe that REM sleep helps people consolidate their thoughts and make sense of traumatic experiences that their awakened mind cannot, because it allows the person to create some sense of resolution.
I chose this article because the concept of memory really interests me. I often have trouble remembering important things like people's names and special dates, and this study helped me to see the importance of sleep (something I don't get a lot of lately!) Our textbook discusses sleep in Chapter 4, pages 131-135. On page 140, the activation-synthesis hypothesis suggests this same type of REM dream mode: the consolidation of thoughts while dreaming.
I chose this article because the concept of memory really interests me. I often have trouble remembering important things like people's names and special dates, and this study helped me to see the importance of sleep (something I don't get a lot of lately!) Our textbook discusses sleep in Chapter 4, pages 131-135. On page 140, the activation-synthesis hypothesis suggests this same type of REM dream mode: the consolidation of thoughts while dreaming.
In Time magazines article Health: Sleep-Deprived by Sanjay Gupta sleep deprivation is studied first hand. The author underwent a sleep study where he went for 30 hrs without sleep and then attempted to fly a simulated 747 airplane. He found that he made a lot of mistakes that proved deadly had it been a real plane. His reaction time was way off, and his reflexes were slow. Additional research has shown getting 6 hours or less every night for a week is like not sleeping at all on the 7th day. Also, being up for more than 20 hours has the same ramifications as a person who was legally drunk at a .08 blood alcohol level.
The reason I decided to write about this article is because I recently had a son who is up most hours of the night. As a result I have been very sleep deprived and wondered what the ramifications are. Our textbook discusses sleep deprivation in chapter 4 on page 128. The book suggests that people need 7 to 8 hours of sleep in a 24 hour cycle to function properly, though each person differs.
The reason I decided to write about this article is because I recently had a son who is up most hours of the night. As a result I have been very sleep deprived and wondered what the ramifications are. Our textbook discusses sleep deprivation in chapter 4 on page 128. The book suggests that people need 7 to 8 hours of sleep in a 24 hour cycle to function properly, though each person differs.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
According to Woman's Day Magazine, it is not just adults who are suffering from depression. Kids are also suffering from this disease, especially in the winter months. One type of depression that children are especially susceptible to is SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Many adults have been known to get "SAD" but now according to the article, there is an increase of the amount of children dealing with depression/SAD.
"SAD" is a disorder that occurs in the winter months when it is dreary and cold. The sun isn't shining as brightly as it does in the spring and summer seasons. Weather affects the moods of children. I have found myself to become depressed in the winter months, especially when I spend more time indoors.
I chose this article because, as a new parent, I am concerned about potential problems that my child may face as he grows into adolescence. I am interested in knowing how to prevent such problems, and how to deal with them as they arise. The subject of depression can be found in chapter 14 on page 543 in the textbook. A treatment that is mentioned in this chapter (which is proven to work especially for children) is sitting them in a room with full-spectrum light which is a much brighter light than you would get in standard indoor lighting.
"SAD" is a disorder that occurs in the winter months when it is dreary and cold. The sun isn't shining as brightly as it does in the spring and summer seasons. Weather affects the moods of children. I have found myself to become depressed in the winter months, especially when I spend more time indoors.
I chose this article because, as a new parent, I am concerned about potential problems that my child may face as he grows into adolescence. I am interested in knowing how to prevent such problems, and how to deal with them as they arise. The subject of depression can be found in chapter 14 on page 543 in the textbook. A treatment that is mentioned in this chapter (which is proven to work especially for children) is sitting them in a room with full-spectrum light which is a much brighter light than you would get in standard indoor lighting.
Memory
In the article " The Unreliable Nature of Memory" in the magazine called " The Great Courses," memory is explained as unreliable at times, especially under "emotionally charged conditions. An example of this is when people recall what happened at the scene of a crime. An eyewitness may believe that he or she saw something that in fact turned out to be false, primarily because they are reacting to their emotional responses to a situation. Because of this, eyewitness testimony is not as reliable as we would like to believe. The article also discusses "flash bulb memories," or memories that are so vivid that we remember minute details, such as where they were and what they were doing when some important event occurred.
I chose this article on memory because we are studying it in our textbook in chapter 6 on page 229. The book further explains that "Flashbulb memories" are so vivid because they hold a strong emotional tie to what the event means to us. According to the article the emotional feelings we feel from an event such as 9/11 is due to Long term memory being enhanced through hormones in the brain, but even a "flashbulb memory" that is so vivid can, over time become less memorable and we can actually start to remember things that didn't exactly happen the way we thought they did. We can end up adding and subtracting from the memory over time.
I chose this article on memory because we are studying it in our textbook in chapter 6 on page 229. The book further explains that "Flashbulb memories" are so vivid because they hold a strong emotional tie to what the event means to us. According to the article the emotional feelings we feel from an event such as 9/11 is due to Long term memory being enhanced through hormones in the brain, but even a "flashbulb memory" that is so vivid can, over time become less memorable and we can actually start to remember things that didn't exactly happen the way we thought they did. We can end up adding and subtracting from the memory over time.
Stress and Panic Disorders
In the article, "Extreme Stress," (Good Housekeeping 2009), Roxanne Shepelavy discusses the issue of panic disorders that have become prevalent in today's society. In the article, she uses Sandra Kasper to illustrate the disorder and its problems. At the time of the writing, Sandra was experiencing a difficult time in her life. Her husband had just been laid off at work, and she was worried about her three children and how they were going to provide for them. Sandra's anxiety started to become worse. Anxiety started turning into panic attacks and panic attacks manifested themselves into health problems.
According to Roxanne, the times we are living in, with the economy being so volatile and people constantly losing their jobs, is resulting in more stress. Interestingly, women are feeling the stress the most. 83 % of women say that they are depressed about money and finances. Panic attacks according to the article include "a speeding heart, light-headedness, sweating, and a feeling of doom." The best way to treat these attacks is through medication and therapy.
I chose this article because I can relate to it personally. Although I do not suffer from a panic disorder, I am effected by stress on a regular basis, sometimes to the point of experiencing some of the panic attack symptoms. The issue of stress in general is discussed in our textbook in chapter 11. On page 409 stress is attributed to "major life changes" just as the writers suggested. Additionally, panic attacks are discussed in chapter 14 as a disorder that affects a persons day to day life.
According to Roxanne, the times we are living in, with the economy being so volatile and people constantly losing their jobs, is resulting in more stress. Interestingly, women are feeling the stress the most. 83 % of women say that they are depressed about money and finances. Panic attacks according to the article include "a speeding heart, light-headedness, sweating, and a feeling of doom." The best way to treat these attacks is through medication and therapy.
I chose this article because I can relate to it personally. Although I do not suffer from a panic disorder, I am effected by stress on a regular basis, sometimes to the point of experiencing some of the panic attack symptoms. The issue of stress in general is discussed in our textbook in chapter 11. On page 409 stress is attributed to "major life changes" just as the writers suggested. Additionally, panic attacks are discussed in chapter 14 as a disorder that affects a persons day to day life.
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