A recently published article seems to lend new information as to the way in which emotions influence our decision-making process. While emotions and reasoning are considered inherently separate by some, new experiments are challenging that perception. A series of studies done by experimental psychologists now show us that emotion plays a very natural role in decision-making situations. The experiments, ranging in type from neuroimaging to simple classical conditioning, suggest that emotions can affect
What impairments would you expect to see following lesions to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex? Compare and contrast with lesions affecting the dorsolateral prefontal cortex. In 1948 Phineas Gage, an American railroad construction foreman, was involved in a terrible accident during which a tamping iron was explosively forced upwards through his left cheek and exiting the top of his head (Harlow, 1948). He stunned his colleagues by not only surviving the event and swiftly regaining consciousness
the general public and therefore research on their brains has been conducted. When comparing scans of everyday citizens’ brains as opposed to the brain of a convicted serial killer, the differences are clear. The two scans differ widely with the prefrontal gray matter of the average person’s, dwarfing that of the murderer’s (Adams). Pr... ... middle of paper ... ...lack of serotonin is a known chemical difference within the mind and body of serial killers. It is also crucial to consider the genetic
Introduction The orbitofrontal cortex is found to be associated with the processing of cognitive information related to decision making. This is, responding to the reward or punishment outcomes experienced by an individual after making a decision and, responding to the expectation of facing such an outcome later. This region of the brain is involved in the regulation of emotions during the process of decision making thereby causing an individual to engage in certain social behaviours. This essay
“Some werewolves are hairy on the inside.” Stephen King, a famous horror film writer and director, knows that serial killers are some of most evil but unrecognizable people in society. Walking down the street, serial killers go completely unnoticed. This “under the radar” way of living is what makes them very dangerous. Serial killers appear entirely normal on the outside, but it is what is on the inside that makes them unlike everybody else. Inside is where their minds are altered to accept
stimuli, especially expressive faces, in psychopaths. Kawasaki et al. (2001) explored the relationship between emotional sensory stimuli and the prefrontal cortex. They looked at neuron response in a 48-year old epilepsy patient using depth electrodes to record neuron activity. They found a short latency to aversive stimuli in the ventral prefrontal cortex. The inability for individuals high in psychopathy to process emotional stimuli can further be explored by assessing how they respond to specific
Mindfulness Meditation and The Reduction of Anxiety Mindfulness meditation is a form of meditation that has been prevalent for thousands of years, and is only becoming increasingly more popular. “Over the past decade, neuroscientists like myself have become increasingly interested in studying how meditation affects the brain and body. The number of studies conducted per year in this new field of contemplative science is rising exponentially, with more than 200 studies published last year alone,”
I decided to study medicine many years ago because it enables one to make a direct difference to another person’s life by putting into practice a deep knowledge of science. However after being in quarantine due to a swine flu outbreak whilst on a Chinese language camp this summer my feelings developed. I had an insight into public health and disease control on a global scale and it was the intensity and sense of urgency that appealed to me. A doctor has no routine and is exposed to scientific and
Procrastination: Habit or Disorder? "Procrastination is 'the art of keeping up with yesterday and avoiding today.' " - Wayne Dyer (6) Universally common to college students, procrastination is often addressed as a bad habit. Yet, in most cases, this isn't a nuance, but a perpetual occurrence - no longer qualifying for the term "habit." Typically thought of as a behavioral trait, procrastination thrives on a cycle of blame shifting and avoidance. Falling victim to this "habit" myself, I embarked
Prefrontal Cortex The prefrontal cortex is the most anterior portion of the frontal lobe. It responds mostly to stimuli signaling the need for movement, however it is also responsible for many other specialized functions. It receives information from all sensory systems and can integrate a large amount of information (Kalat 2004). Studies have shown that the prefrontal cortex is responsible for working memory. Working memory is defined as "the information that is currently available
Lily Huang author of Protect the Willfully Ignorant states “An increasingly urgent question of privacy or how best to keep your public plot walled in” (474). Most internet users savvy or not, are aware of the potential risks. Most people know the potential risk for permanency and of the pictures or information we put out on social networks or other sites and the content being seen. We have all heard the warnings since grammar school from everyone about the internet and how to use it. Teachers, parents
The course Psychology 361: Introduction to Clinical Psychology served as an introduction to the profession and personal life of clinical psychologists. We discussed the ethical and legal issues, the importance of the client-therapist relationship, the rights and responsibilities of the client and the therapist and the different types of therapy within this field of practice. However, after evaluating these concepts in depth, I have come to find some of the material surprising, interesting and difficult
All throughout history Buddhist monks and the eastern religion have been performing meditation, but recently anyone has been trying it. Meditation is a practice that someone may train their mind to be in a state of consciousness that benefits their mind and body. Meditation is about paying attention, focusing and being very calm. It sharpens creativity and performance while enhancing relationships. Meditators find when they stop taking things in life so seriously, the self drops away. They are
It has been believed for some time that an individual becomes violent because of traumatic childhoods that were wrought with neglect and abuse. Others have argued that one becomes violent because they are mentally deranged. There have been many studies over the years to find out what causes a person to become a serial killer, but still there is no definitive cause. All serial killers are psychopaths (a person with a psychopathic personality, which manifests as amoral and antisocial behavior, lack
affects of alcohol on the teenage brain. Adolescent drinkers are more inclined to damage their brain than adult drinkers. This is because structures in the brain such as the hippocampus, which is responsible for learning and memory, and the prefrontal cortex, “which is the brains chief decision maker and voice of reason” (Wuethrich, p.59) are making a lot of adjustments during the teen years. As a result the brain does not fully develop. This has been proven by a study done with rats, conducted
simulator.” (2004, February) It means that the prefrontal cortex enables individuals to experience the future before it even happens. This ability also enables one “to desire things” and lets one imagine how it will make them feel a type of way and defines synthetic happiness. In the article, The Role of the Brain in Happiness by Doctor Bill Conklin, he explained that by using a functional MRI machine, he was able to see that the left prefrontal cortex is more active when an individuals feel happy
you to opt for immediate mood repair” Not surprisingly, those “unpleasant tasks” can include homework and projects. While useful when surviving in the wild, this instinct can impair your ability to work efficiently. The next contender is the prefrontal cortex, located right behind y... ... middle of paper ... ...r friend can provide support in case you need help. However, doing this can take much willpower because asking a friend to do help you to stop procrastinating may seem a bit silly, so
Rather than concentrating on doing one thing at time, students divide their attention in many activities, such as doing your homework while playing video game and texting when listening to lecture in class. Researchers founded multitasking can divide attention between several tasks that can confuse the brain and have negative effects on student’s grade. When switching between tasks to task it can decreases the level of activities that are done at the same time. Researchers believe that students depend
mechanism by which altered dopamine levels, especially in the prefrontal cortex, striatum, and limbic system, produce schizophrenia. There is much clinical evidense that provides support for the dopamine hypothesis. The first evidense that dopamine may be involved in schizophrenia came from amphetamine users. Amphetamines work by causing the brain to produce mo... ... middle of paper ... ...ital Cortex: Focal Abnormalities in Orbitofrontal Cortex in Schizophrenia" From Meador-Woodruff Laboratory Homepage
thoughts"(NIMH, 1996), that affects about five percent of school age children (McEwan, 1998). Loss of control and thought may be believed to be caused by certain impaired brain functions that are important for children to maintain attention. The prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus, and globus pallidus are three parts of the brain that are involved with regulating attention (Barkley, 1998). In a Scientific American article, entitled "Attention-Deficit Hypera... ... middle of paper ... ...Attention-Deficit