Psychology Update — Short Answers to Hard Questions About Postpartum Depression

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

TITLE

Short Answers to Hard Questions About Postpartum Depression

 

DESCRIPTION

This is an excellent short article that answers questions regarding maternal mental health and, more specifically, postpartum depression.   The article is useful in teaching in that it provides specifics regarding the condition, epidemiology, screening, and treatment.   It can be useful in the abnormal/psychopathology and development chapters of the textbook.

SOURCE

New York Times, January 26, 2016, by Pam Bulluck

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/26/health/what-is-postpartum-depression-test.html?ref=health

 

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/z6ae6sb

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What comprises the concept of “maternal mental health?”
•What is postpartum depression?
•Provide the students with an understanding of the term “epidemiology” and then apply it to this article.
•Is there a related condition (similar to postpartum depression) in men?   (See the April 18, 2016 Psychology update for the reference to the article)

 

Psychology Update — When Stress Harms the Heart

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

TITLE

When Stress Harms the Heart

 

DESCRIPTION

A small study indicates that the amygdala region of the brain, long known for it’s role in emotions may now play a role in heart disease.   The study found that stress affecting the brain in the processing of emotions in the amygdala can cause inflammation of the arteries leading to heart disease.  ““This study demonstrates, for the first time, that metabolic activity within a key component of the brain’s fear network predicts the development of [heart disease] in humans, independently of established risk factors…” (Time article)

SOURCE

Time Magazine, March 24, 2016, by Alexandra Sifferlin

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://time.com/4270655/how-stress-harms-the-heart/

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is health Psychology?
•How does stress affect the body in general?
•What is the role of the limbic system in the brain?
•Specifically what is the function of the amygdala?

Psychology Update — A Brief History of Twin Studies

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

TITLE

A Brief History of Twin Studies
DESCRIPTION

After astronaut Scott Kelly returned from a year in space, the results of his tests (physical and psychological) were compared with his identical twin brother Mark’s tests.  Mark was earth bound while Scott was in space.  Psychologist have been fascinated with the “nature-nurture” question and have devoted over 100 hundred years of research investigating the question looking at identical vs fraternal twin studies.  This article provides a history of these studies beginning with Francis Galton’s initial but flawed studies of human intelligence through modern research studies of Bouchard and database twin registries.  The article provides an interesting background to the textbook chapters on human development.

SOURCE

smithsonian.com, March 4, 2016, by Ker Than

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/brief-history-twin-studies-180958281/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&no-ist

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/zzhvd2q

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is the nature-nurture controversy?
•How have twin studies been used to study the are as to whether human psychological traits are derived from genetics or the environment?
•According to the article, what error did Galton make in his conclusions regarding Nature-Nurture and intelligence?  What do we now understand about the relative contributions of genetics and environmental influences on intelligence?
•What are some of the startling and fascinating findings about identical twins found from Bouchard’s research?

 

APP OF THE WEEK — Office Lens from Microsoft

Posted by & filed under Psychology App of the Week.

APP OF THE WEEK

Office Lens by Microsoft

OfficeLens

iOS  (click to go to iTunes description — free)

Android (click to go to Android store — free)

DESCRIPTION

From iTunes Store

Office Lens trims, enhances, and makes pictures of whiteboards and documents readable. Office Lens can convert images to editable Word, PowerPoint, and PDF files.

Office Lens is like having a scanner in your pocket. Like magic, it will digitalize notes on whiteboards or blackboards. Always find important documents or business cards. Sketch your ideas and snap a picture for later. Don’t lose receipts or stray sticky notes again!

Scenarios:
– Capture and crop a picture of a whiteboard or blackboard and share your meeting notes with co-workers.
– Make digital copies of your printed documents, business cards, or posters and trim them precisely.
– Printed text will be automatically recognized (using OCR) so you can search for words in images and copy and edit them.

Features:
– With Whiteboard mode, Office Lens trims and cleans up glare and shadows.
– With Document mode, Office Lens trims and colors images perfectly.
– Pictures can be saved to OneNote, OneDrive, or your preferred cloud storage.
– Choose to convert images to Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), or PDF (.pdf) files that are automatically saved to OneDrive.

HOW TO USE THIS APP

Often the problem with classroom board work (white or blackboard) is the the information is lost when erased.  Imagine just taking a picture and having it editable and posting it to a website as if prepared on your computer.  Even work that students do in class during discussions that may be written on large poster paper becomes scannable and editable.  Of course you can always take pictures of any work, but Office Lens can turn the work to editable text through it’s built in OCR technology.  The listed feating in the description tell all.

Psychology Update — How Prenatal Pollution Exposure Can Lead to Behavior Problems in Children

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

TITLE

How Prenatal Pollution Exposure Can Lead to Behavior Problems in Children

 

DESCRIPTION

This article discusses a series of studies that investigated whether exposure to high levels of pollution during pregnancy affects psychological, emotional, and behavioral variables in children.  The studies found “… stronger evidence now about how that air pollution can affect even growing babies in the womb…. Among the 462 children monitored, those whose mothers showed higher levels of PAH  polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons —air pollution) at delivery (an indicator of PAH levels during pregnancy), were less likely to regulate their behaviors and emotions at age 9 and 11 than those whose mothers showed lower levels of the pollutant.”  The studies further cited in the article point out the other areas (attention, aggression, socialization issues) may also show disruption in children exposed to high levels of pollution prenatally.

SOURCE

Time Magazine, March 17, 2016, by Alice Park

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://time.com/4263089/prenatal-polution-behavior-problems/

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Begin the discussion with the concept of teratogens and prenatal development.
•According to the article, what aspects of development are affected by the exposure to high levels of air pollution?
•If time permits to examine the cited research in the article, ask the students to identify the types of research (correlation, cross sectional, longitudinal) and relate it to the science of Psychology.

 

Psychology Update — Why More Companies Are Eager To Hire People With Autism

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

 

TITLE

Why More Companies Are Eager To Hire People With Autism

DESCRIPTION

Individuals on the autism spectrum are, for the most part, unemployed (70% and higher) and often on SSI for disability.  Companies (accounting, software, computer) are realizing that some of those on the spectrum have abilities that can be helpful in these professions.  Often because the individual does think differently then this can be used in a creative unique way to solve problems, see patterns, and approach issues from a unique perspective.   What was seen as a disability for some, may work well in certain types of positions.  “As companies try to diversify and heed calls to be more inclusive, a growing number of them are now identifying positions that people on the spectrum will excel at, interviewing them and hiring them for full-time or temporary positions.”

SOURCE

Huffington Post, March 29, 2016, by Jenny Che

Why More Companies Are Eager To Hire People With Autism

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/companies-hiring-people-with-autism_us_56e99cdfe4b065e2e3d82ab4?

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/zywhfxa

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
•How does it manifest and what are the symptoms?
•According to the article, in what way are so called problems actually useful in the work place?
•What are the benefits to both the individual with the disorder and the coworkers in the workplace?

 

Psychology Update — When Dad Struggles After the Baby Arrives

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

TITLE

When Dad Struggles After the Baby Arrives
DESCRIPTION

Though research and therapy have focused on women and postpartum depression, about 14% of new fathers experience psychological distress in the first year after the birth of a child; the percentage might be higher because men do not necessarily open up about their feelings.  “Experts call it paternal postnatal depression (PPND), or paternal perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PPMADs) because men aren’t the ones actually giving birth. It’s a form of depression or another disorder such as anxiety – not unlike what some moms experience after a new baby arrives.”  The author of the article opens up to discussing his feelings which include anxiety, depression, self-loathing, persistent worry, and a number of physical symptoms such as headache, insomnia, and other dysfunction.   The article also points out the talking to others, expressing feelings, support groups, and psychotherapy can be helpful.

SOURCE

Psychology Today, March 29, 2016, by Matt Villano

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/women-s-mental-health-matters/201603/when-dad-struggles-after-the-baby-arrives

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/h37wk95

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Begin with a discussion of Post Partum Depression in women.
•How is this manifested in men after the birth of a child?
•What is PPND?  What is PPMAD?
•According to the article what are the symptoms?
•According to the article, what are some of the ways used to cope and handle the symptoms?

 

PSYCHOLOGY WEBSITE OF THE WEEK — Aipoly Vision

Posted by & filed under Psychology Website of the Week.

PSYCHOLOGY WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

Aipoly Vision

URL      

http://aipoly.com/

DESCRIPTION

This website describes a new free app, Aipoly Vision, which can “tell” a visually impaired individual what objects are being encountered.  The app can identify objects, colors, scenes, logos and words.

This app can be used for teaching purposes in a lesson in the visual sense and the topic of sensation and perception.

Psychology Update — 3 Articles Regarding the Senses: Vision, Hearing & Vestibular, and Touch

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

3 Articles Regarding the Senses:  Vision, Hearing & Vestibular, and Touch

Article #1

From Vertigo to Tinnitus, Ear Ailments Are New Focus for Drugs

 

DESCRIPTION

This article is found in the business section of the New York Times rather than the health or science sections.  It focuses on pharmaceutical research companies that are only now exploring a new frontier in medicine:  hearing.   Of course there are hearing aids and cochlear implants for hearing loss, however there are a number of other problems related to the mechanism, structure, and perception of sound.  “Crucial to hearing are about 15,000 so-called hair cells in the cochlea, part of the inner ear, which convey signals to the auditory nerve leading to the brain. The hair cells can be damaged by loud noise, by disease, by exposure to certain medicines, or simply by the passage of time. And the hair cells do not regenerate, so once they are destroyed the loss is permanent.”  From issues of damage, disease, and aging, new research is attempting to find medications to ameliorate these problems.   For teaching purposes, the article is helpful to discuss application of knowledge of hearing to real world scenarios.

SOURCE

New York Times, January 9, 2015, by Andrew Pollack

LINK TO RESOURCE

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/ha3deaa

Article #2

Touch and The Autism Spectrum

 

DESCRIPTION

Many children and adults on the autism spectrum have sensitivities to a variety of stimuli (light, sound, touch).  This article provides a very practical approach to describing the sensitivities that some individuals have to touch in particular.  The article provides a number of examples that happen in everyday life when neurotypical (a person without autism) touches a person (on the spectrum) who has the sensitivity to touch.  “…the focus of this article will be how many individuals with autism experience touch; some of the challenges with touch; and how both individuals with autism and individuals without can understand and relate to each other better in light of the facts.”  The author briefly discusses practical solutions to dealing with “desensitizing” to touch with a focus on helping the autistic individual cope.

SOURCE

Psychology Today, November 8, 2011, by Stephen Borgman

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/spectrum-solutions/201111/touch-and-the-autism-spectrum

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/z86qo6l

Article #3

The App That Helps Blind People See

DESCRIPTION

To the blind and visually impaired, having to rely on dogs and other people stifles independence and narrows the world around them.  Imagine pointing a phone at an object or a sign and having the app state what the object is (without touching) or to read the sign.   Aipoly Vision is an app (free) that can do just that!  In the hands of a blind individual, the app can help identify the world, objects, colors, logos and so on as the individual traverses the environment.  “…early users of the app have called it “game changing” and on par with self-driving cars for its potential to transform the lives of blind people.”  The website of the Week and App of the week are coordinated for your students to learn about the visual sense and the deficits caused by impairment.

SOURCE

Newsweek, March 21, 2016,  Anthony Cuthbertson

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.newsweek.com/app-helps-blind-people-see-433253

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•First discuss the sense from the point of view of deficits, diseases, problems (blindness, deafness, vertigo, and so on).  Have the students discuss sensory loss in terms of aging, disease, trauma and so on.   Ask for personal and family experiences and relate to ADA issues as well.
•How are the problems of the auditory mechanism described in the article?  Have the students understand problems of hearing loss, balance, vertigo, tinnitus and so on.  According to the article, why is it only now that pharmaceutical companies are researching medicines for the various problem discussed in the article?
•Discuss autism spectrum disorders from a sensation and perception perspective.  Touch sensitivity gives rise to many parent-child and adult relations issues.  How does the article take a practical approach to the problems?
•The article on Airplay Vision app discusses a new approach to helping the blind, have the students download the app and use it as part of a homework assignment.  Use the next class to discuss the visual system and how this app might ameliorate problems of navigating the environment.   Use it for a classroom demonstration.