Posted by & filed under Lifespan Development, Psychology Website of the Week.

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

FACTS ABOUT BIRTH DEFECTS

URL      

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/facts.html

DESCRIPTION

This is the home page on Birth Defects from the Center For Disease Control and Prevention.  It is a useful summary page for students who need a factual resource on birth defects, causes, and prevention.

In light of the problems in the news on lead exposure and the Zika virus, this web site can provide valuable information for your students.

Posted by & filed under Lifespan Development, Psychology Update.

3 Articles on Teratogens That Affect Prenatal and postnatal Development:   The Zika Virus, Lead, and Alcohol Exposure

TITLE

Article #1:  Scientists Investigate How Viruses Like Zika Cause Birth Defects
DESCRIPTION

The Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes and is believed to be the cause of thousands of cases of microcephaly around the world.  A serious birth defect wherein the infant is born with a significantly small head that affects brain development.  (See the url in the link to resource section below.)   Exposure during pregnancy by various drugs, chemicals, viruses, and diseases are called teratogens.   “The risk that viruses pose during pregnancy came to light in the mid-1900s, when outbreaks of rubella, or German measles, led to waves of birth defects, including microcephaly, cataracts and deformed hearts and livers.”  The article discusses the Zika virus and how it affects development in the fetus leading to serious birth defects.

SOURCE

New York Times, February 8.2016, by Carl Zimmer

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/09/science/zika-virus-microcephaly-birth-defects-rubella-cytomegalovirus.html?emc=edit_th_20160209&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=38200791

(shortened URL)  http://tinyurl.com/jb3os9n

link to MICROCEPHALY:
http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/microcephaly/overview.html

ARTICLE #2

Article #2:  What the Science Says About Long-Term Damage From Lead

DESCRIPTION

Also in the news is the lead exposure problem in Flint, Michigan.  Due to a change in the water source to the city, lead leached out the water pipes affecting the city’s populations.  This is  major epidemic that not only affects prenatal conditions but also post natal in children and adults.  Lead has been removed from paint and gasoline due to the associated problem it causes.  Studies have found that “…high blood lead levels were associated with increased oppositional, hyperactive and bullying behaviors in children.  Teenagers who had high lead levels in childhood were more likely to have had sex by 13, be pregnant by age 17 and smoke or drink while in their early teens. There is even some evidence of a connection to crime.”  Additionally cognitive problems in lowered intelligence has long been know to be a consequence of lead exposure.

SOURCE

New York Times, February 8, 2016, by Aaron E. Carroll

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/09/upshot/what-the-science-says-about-long-term-damage-from-lead.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_up_20160208&nl=upshot&nl_art=0&nlid=38200791&ref=headline&te=1

(shortened URL)   http://tinyurl.com/hzcy52u

ARTICLE #3

TITLE

Article #3:  
This mother drank while pregnant. Here’s what her daughter’s like at 43

DESCRIPTION

It has been long known scientifically and without a doubt that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome now called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).  It is a significant major teratogen which can affect prenatal development and cause irreversible life time damage.
“Its effects can include impaired growth, intellectual disabilities and such neurological, emotional and behavioral issues as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, vision problems and speech and language delays. FASD is also sometimes characterized by a cluster of facial features: small eyes, a thin upper lip and a flat philtrum (the ridge between the nose and upper lip).”  Students will feel engaged reading this article which is formed loosely around a case study of the mother’s chaotic alcoholism and how it affected her daughter’s life with a serious intense FASD.

SOURCE

Washington Post, January 18, 2016, by Alexandra Rockey Fleming

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/this-mother-drank-while-pregnant-heres-what-her-daughters-like-at-43/2016/01/15/32ff5238-9a08-11e5-b499-76cbec161973_story.html

(shortened URL)  http://tinyurl.com/zaepzxw

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is a teratogen?  Why is this of interest to Psychologists?
•What are the effects of teratogens?
•When is a teratogen most influential in prenatal development?
•What are the effects of exposure to alcohol on the fetus?
•What are the effects of exposure to the Zika virus on the fetus?
•What are the effects of lead exposure to a child?

Posted by & filed under Psychology App of the Week.

APP OF THE WEEK

 

Genetics & Birth Defects

Genetics

 

 

 

iOS (free):   click on the icon to be taken to the information page

 

DESCRIPTION

From the iTunes Store

“Topics include:

● Birth Defects
● Cleft Lip
● Cleft Palate
● Color Blindness
● Down Syndrome
● Dwarfism
● Fragile X
● Marfan Syndrome
● Neural Tube Defects
● Phenylketonuria
● Rett Syndrome
● Spina Bifida
● And many more topics…

A genetic disorder is a disease caused by a different form of a gene called a variation, or an alteration of a gene called a mutation. Many diseases have a genetic aspect. Some, including many cancers, are caused by a mutation in a gene or group of genes in a person’s cells. These mutations can occur randomly or because of an environmental exposure such as cigarette smoke.

Other genetic disorders are inherited. A mutated gene is passed down through a family and each generation of children can inherit the gene that causes the disease. Still other genetic disorders are due to problems with the number of packages of genes called chromosomes. In Down syndrome, for example, there is an extra copy of chromosome 21.”

HOW TO USE THIS APP

This is an informational app that would be useful in class on the topic of human development, birth defects, genetic problems, as well as teratogens.  It will engage students and provide useful information given the current events in the news (Zika virus, lead exposure from drinking water).

Posted by & filed under Psychology App of the Week.

APP OF THE WEEK
PAR CRR

CONCUSSION RECOGNITION & RESPONSE

PAR_CRR

CONCUSSION RECOGNITION & RESPONSE

iOS    &    Android  (free, click on the link of your platform)

DESCRIPTION

From Google Play Store and iTunes Store

The Concussion Recognition & Response™ App
Developed by Gerard A. Gioia, PhD, and Jason Mihalik, PhD

“The Concussion Recognition & Response™ app is a new tool that helps coaches and parents recognize whether an individual is exhibiting/reporting the signs and symptoms of a suspected concussion. The app allows a coach or parent to respond quickly and appropriately to this potentially serious medical situation. In less than 5 minutes, the user can go through a checklist of possible signs/symptoms to determine whether to remove the child from play and the need for further medical examination. The app allows users to record pertinent information regarding a child with a suspected concussion and share that information via email with health care professionals; it also provides a system for post-injury follow-up. With answers to Frequently Asked Questions for parents and coaches, this tool is an invaluable guide for learning about concussions.”

Benefits and Features:

Concussion Recognition and Response

“Using information from the CDC’s “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports” program, the app guides users through a set of questions to determine the likelihood of a suspected concussion based on observations by the parent or coach as well as symptoms reported by the athlete. In addition to the child’s name, age, gender, and sport, the location of the injury is tracked by the device’s GPS, and its camera can be used to photograph the injury. Along with the answers to the guided questions, this information can be emailed to a health care provider to provide accurate documentation of the child’s condition at the time of the injury.”

HOW TO USE THIS APP

The app is free and provides the professor and student the opportunity to explore the symptoms and treatment of a concussion.  Using the app (for tablets and smartphones), the student can check off symptoms to determine a diagnosis of concussion,  severity, and treatment.  The app is useful when the discussion of brain and nervous system are coupled with head injury and sports.

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

TITLE

5 Freaky Facts About Nightmares
Science demystifies your creepiest nighttime visions.

DESCRIPTION

Researchers made use of correlation and case study reports to collect common themes that are classified as nightmares.  Nightmares are viewed as highly emotionally intense states that often wake up the dreamer and are reported as worse than just a bad dream.  The study looked at common themes and drew a number of conclusions which are listed below from the Huffington Post article.

1 — “Nightmares may be your brain’s way of releasing anxiety.”
2 — “Your nightmares aren’t unique.”
3 — “Trying to interpret your nightmares probably won’t get you very far.”
4 — “Men tend to dream of natural disasters, while women dream of relationship troubles.”
5 — “Nightmares are linked to some sleep disorders.”

SOURCE

Huffington Post, October 29, 2015, by Carolyn Gregoire

Original Source:
Sleep, volume 37, issue 02

Robert G; Zadra A., (2014;37(2)), Thematic and content analysis of idiopathic nightmares and bad dreams. SLEEP 2014;37(2):409-417.

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/facts-about-nightmares_5628f71ee4b0aac0b8fbcf8b?ir=Science%253Fncid%253Dnewsltushpmg00000003

(shortened URL)  http://tinyurl.com/pbshycr

Link to original:   http://dx.doi.org/10.5665/sleep.3426

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Have the students first discuss the stages of sleep after reading the article in conjunction with the textbook chapter.
•What happens during REM sleep?  How is it studied in the laboratory?
•Historically in “early” Psychology, how have dreams been studied?  (Freud and Jung)
•What is the difference between a nightmare and a bad dream?
•If the professor is comfortable with students’ anecdotes of their own experience, how do these fit together with the 5 facts of the article?

 

Posted by & filed under Psychology Website of the Week.

PSYCHOLOGY WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

TITLE

The Story Of Fidgety Philip (by Heinrich Hoffman)

URL    

http://germanstories.vcu.edu/struwwel/philipp_e.html

© 1994-1999 Robert Godwin-Jones
Virginia Commonwealth University

DESCRIPTION

In story book literature, this may be one of the first stories that describes a case of ADHD.  It may be useful in discussion of the topic of ADHD, history, and child development.

Posted by & filed under Psychology App of the Week.

PSYCHOLOGY APP OF THE WEEK

Penultimate

Penultimate

Click on your platform (free):          iOS      &

Android:      Handwriting is Built into Evernote for Android

 

DESCRIPTION

From the iTunes Store:

The best digital handwriting on iPad. Penultimate combines distraction-free, natural handwriting and sketching with the power of Evernote’s sync and search. Take class or meeting notes, journal your thoughts, or outline your next big idea—in the office or on the go. From the first stroke, Penultimate makes the experience of pen and paper more productive.

INK AND PAPER, MADE BETTER
Notes and drawings look spectacular in black or colored ink. Our inking technology produces pen strokes that look natural, and Wrist Protection prevents stray marks for writers of all grips. Choose from a number of paper styles, or import an image to create personalized paper.

STYLUS AND SOFTWARE BUILT TOGETHER
We worked closely with Adonit to create the stylus we’ve always wanted: the Jot Script Evernote Edition, the first true precision-point stylus. Penultimate integrates tightly with the stylus and together they make digital handwriting the experience it should be. It’s like writing with your favorite pen. Available now in the Evernote Market.

YOUR WRITING KEEPS PACE WITH YOU
Penultimate lets you work on any part of the page effortlessly. To zoom in on a location on the page, simply pinch in and start writing. With Penultimate’s Drift feature enabled, the page will move along with you, automatically adjusting to the pace you are working at.

CONNECT AND SYNC WITH EVERNOTE
Sign in to your Evernote account in the Penultimate app to organize your Penultimate notes in notebooks, separated by topic, project, or category. Your Penultimate notes are synced to Evernote automatically, so you can find and share them across all of your devices.

FIND WHAT YOU NEED QUICKLY
No matter how you prefer to organize your work, Penultimate makes it easy to find the notes you need. Penultimate processes your notes so you can search for handwritten text in the app. Save and browse your work in notebooks and insert, delete, duplicate, and reorganize pages any way you like within them.

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

TITLE

Can You Get Smarter?

DESCRIPTION

The author asks “Can you get smarter by exercising — or altering — your brain?” This extensive review article poses the question after pointing out that cognitive decline may begin, normally, by the late 50s or early 60s.  He also notes that there are a number of programs, websites, apps, health “food” and herbal claims that all state that their programs and substances will prevent cognitive decline and keep a person cognitively sharper.   Further, the author reviews a number of well done studies that show while there is some brain neuroplasticity most of the claims only show some slight improvement in functioning which might also be viewed rather as slowing down a decline in aging.  Throughout the article (view it online) the studies links are highlighted to take the reader to the original research.  This is a worthwhile article for any discussions of cognition, intelligence, problem solving, memory, and aging.

SOURCE

New York Times, Sunday Review, October 23, 2015, by Richard A. Friedman

Original source:  Brain Test Britain – About the brain training games

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/opinion/sunday/can-you-get-smarter.html?emc=eta1

Original Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/labuk/results/braintestbritain/4_brain_training_games.html

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is the normal course of cognitive developing in aging (>60)?
•In particular what systems show decline in a healthy population?
•What is brain neuroplasticity?
•The author highlights a number of studies:  what is the general conclusion regarding the various claims (foods, exercise, brain games) on the effects of cognition in the aging population?
•Examine the link to the original source above on brain training games.  Provide the students with the link or use the class computer to project the website.  What conclusions can the students draw about such brain training games?

 

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

TITLE

New Approach Advised to Treat Schizophrenia

DESCRIPTION

In a significant new research study on recovery from a first epicode of schizophrenia, the subjects were given an alternative treatment program that emphasized lower doses of antipsychotic medication, social supports, and talk therapy.  “First, help with work or school such as assistance in deciding which classes or opportunities are most appropriate, given a person’s symptoms. Second, education for family members to increase their understanding of the disorder. And finally, one-on-one talk therapy in which the person with the diagnosis learns tools to build social relationships, reduce substance use and help manage the symptoms, which include mood problems as well as hallucinations and delusions.”  The results of the study concluded that this alternative treatment program (as compared to antipsychotic drugs alone) have better treatment outcomes.

SOURCE

New York Times, October 20, 2015, by Benedict Carey

Original Source:
Kane, J.M., and others, (2015) Comprehensive Versus Usual Community Care for First-Episode Psychosis: 2-Year Outcomes From the NIMH RAISE Early Treatment Program, American Journal of Psychiatry, (announced but not as yet published)

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/health/talk-therapy-found-to-ease-schizophrenia.html?emc=edit_na_20151020&nlid=38200791&ref=cta&_r=0

(shortened URL)  http://tinyurl.com/q8a6ld5

Original:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15050632

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is schizophrenia?  What are the symptoms?
•What are the antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia?  What are the negative side effects?
•What are the alternatives as described by the research program?
•How is treatment outcome for schizophrenics measured?

 

Posted by & filed under Psychology Update.

TITLE

Does Mindfulness Make for a Better Athlete?

DESCRIPTION

This is an article that discusses an original study wherein BMX (bicycle) athletes were given mindfulness training exercises.   The small study established a baseline to a stress response through a brain scan technique.  The researchers recorded those areas of the brain that responded to the stress inducing stimuli.  After establishing a baseline, the athletes were trained in body awareness techniques that follow from mindfulness meditation practices.  In the follow up measurements, the researchers found distinct changes in the brain area and communication between brain areas when the subjects put the mindfulness practices into effect while undergoing the stress inducement techniques.  The researchers did not determine, at the time of the study, as to whether the mindfulness practices generalized (transferred) to the athletic competitions.

SOURCE

New York Times, September 30, 2015, by Gretchen Reynolds

Original Source:

Johnson, D.C, and others, (2014), Modifying resilience mechanisms in at-risk individuals: a controlled study of mindfulness training in Marines preparing for deployment., Am J Psychiatry. 2014 Aug;171(8):844-53. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.13040502.

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/09/30/does-mindfulness-make-for-a-better-athlete/?&moduleDetail=section-news-2&action=click&contentCollection=Health®ion=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=Blogs

(shortened URL)  http://tinyurl.com/p88ofqf

Link to original:   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24832476

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is mindful meditation?
•What techniques are used in training?
•Discuss the study and ask after reading:  What are the Independent and Dependent Variable?
•Critical Thinking Question:    What are the current flaws in the study?