Runner's High

Many people have heard of runner's high and I have experienced it many times myself but it wasn't until this class where I fully understood what it meant.  Our body releases several types of neurotransmitter molecules similar to morphine in response to pain and vigorous exercise, these neurotransmitters are called endorphins.  As you run your body releases more and more endorphins causing your body to feel reduced pain and good feelings.  This would explain why so many people feel really well after a run.  Knowing this information you are able to understand why this shirt is humorous.  

Nike Dri Fit Tee

Multiple Personalities

When we watched the video about multiple personality disorders I found it hard to believe.  I don't understand how someone can have that many personalities and not understand how they are acting.  Although it's hard for me to believe I still find it interesting.  The thing that makes it so hard for me to believe is how she can act so mature one minute and then change to a 5 year old girl the next minute.  In the video it seemed like it is very dagerous if you have this disorder.  I dont see how her husband could stay with her when she has that many personalities and puts their family in danger.  I am also interested in learning about how to treat this disorder.  It did't cover how to do that in the video.

Conditioning

This week we have learned about classical and conditioning.  One thing that I have been conditioned to do is run.  You could consider it to be a classical conditioning. The UCS would be my brother and sister running in college. The UCR would be me deciding to go out for cross country my freshman year.  The NS could be considered myself doing well in the sport plus having my siblings do it which leads to the UCR of deciding to go out freshman year.  In the end the CS running everyday to do well at the sport and the CR of sticking with running and running almost every day.  This maybe a stretch for classical conditioning but it gives a real life example.  It explains how I have been conditioned to run mostly everyday year round.

Theories of Adolescence

Between the two theories of adolescence I would agree more with Margaret Mead rather than Stanley Hall.   She believed that adolescence was a continuum of childhood and a precursor to adulthood.  She didn't believe it was a second stage like Stanley Hall.  She even said adolescence is highly enjoyable in countries that are well developed.  For these reasons I agree more with her theory than Stanley Hall.

Brain Disorders

Through out the week we learned about all the different brain disorders.  The one I found most intersting was the savant syndrome.  I think it would be intersting to live a day as a savant to see what it would be like and what goes through there brain on a daily basis.  To remember the things they remember is amazing.  If I could be any savant I would want to be a musical savant.  You could definately make a living off of your talents as a savant. 

I found this video very intersting and it helped me learn more having the savant syndrome.
http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/_SAVANT/_RES/_media/video/treffert/video.html 

Neurotransmitters

Morphine is a drug that helps pain.  It acts like a beta endorphins which is the neurotransmitter that reduces pain and create feelings of pleasure.  This is why it is considered a pain killer.

Alcohol is different as it affects basically every neurotransmitter in your brain.  The reason people have different reactions while drinking is related to genetics and what specific neurotransmitters are more stimulated by consuming alcohol.  One major neurotransmitter it affects is the dopamin that regulates your movement and emotions.  Which leads to excitement and stimulation.

As you can see different drugs has different effects on the neurotransmitters in our brains.

Cognitive Perspective

John of God

I found this article and thought it was very interesting. I thought it related well to the cognitive perspective in psychology.  Everyone that went to witness this guy called "John of God" experienced something that changed there lives.  This follows the cognitive perspective.  People do what they do because there behavior is influenced by values, interpretations, and choices.  They all took away different interpretations from the experience of going to Brazil to learn more about this John of God.  Dr. Rediger says he views the  world differently now after witnessing how John healed patients.  This shows how it is the cognitive perspective in psychology because from personal experiences he views the world differently in his mind than anyone else.