Extremely Premature Babies Face Developmental Issues
DESCRIPTION
In this study Johanna Månsson assessed 400 premature infants and compared them to a control of 400 infants born full term. Premature birth is a causal factor in both physical and psychological (cognitive) problems. Månsson found that by 2-1/2 years old that the premature children had lower scores on assessments of motor function, language, and cognition. Månsson says “the findings indicate that early interventions may be needed to ensure that extremely premature babies catch up developmentally.”
SOURCE:
Time Magazine, Feb. 11, 2015, by Alexandra Sifferlin,
ORIGINAL SOURCE: News and Press Releases Lund University February 11, 2015
Publication: Johanna Månsson’s PhD thesis is entitled Born near the limit of viability – developmental outcomes 2.5 years later, and is part of the national multidisciplinary project Extremely Preterm Infants in Sweden Study
•Begin the discussion by outlining the stages of gestation and interweave the causes of prematurity including terratogens, alcohol, drugs usage, and especially nutrition.
•What are the medical issues that are the consequences of prematurity?
•What are the cognitive problems?
•Based upon studies in this field, what early intervention strategies are found to be effective? (interweave information on language and intelligence from the textbook)
There are two important articles in this week’s Psychology Update.
#1 After PTSD, More Trauma
DESCRIPTION: “David J. Morris, a former Marine infantry officer, is the author of the forthcoming book “The Evil Hours: A Biography of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Mr. Morris describes his life after serving in the military and suffering intense PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). He describes his experiences with the VA (Veterans Administration) system in his attempt to get treatment. Further, he elaborates on the treatment that made him worse not better. He also discusses his road to recovery.
#2 ‘American’ Sniper’ Jury Is Told of Troubled Ex-Marine Who Killed Chris Kyle
DESCRIPTION: This article is a first in the series about the beginning of the trial of Eddie Ray Routh who shot Chris Kyle (American Sniper) and another marine. The article provides details of Mr. Routh’s condition and diagnosis after leaving the military. He was diagnosed as both schizophrenic and having PTSD, and has had a number of violent interactions. The article juxtaposes the defense arguments regarding the insanity plea versus the prosecutor’s perspective that Mr. Routh essentially did not have a disorder and is purely guilty murder regardless of his diagnosis and mitigating circumstances.
SOURCE: New York Times by Manny Fernandez and Kathryn Jones
#3 ‘American Sniper’ Jury Finds Ex-Marine Guilty of Murder –
DESCRIPTION: The trial ended, and the jury found that Eddie Ray Routh is guilty of murder despite the data that he was diagnosed with both PTSD and schizophrenia. He will be sentenced to life in prison.
SOURCE: New York Times, February 27, 2015, by Manny Fernandez and Kathryn Jones
LINK TO RESOURCE
(shortened URL) http://tinyurl.com/lnnscte
CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
•What is PTSD? What are the causes, triggers, and symptoms?
What does the diagnosis entail? That is, how is the diagnosis made?
•What is the insanity defense? How is it determined?
(See the Websites of the week (for March 2, 2015) that are part of this update.)
•What types of therapy are employed for veterans who suffer PTSD as described by David Morris? What is the efficacy of the treatment? What are the pros and cons of each as described by the author?
•How are we to understand the point of view of the defense for Mr. Routh in their use of Psychological/Psychiatric data vs the denial of the data by the prosecutors? What accounts for the clash between the scientific and the legal system?
•If we accept David Morris’ description of PTSD, the VA, and subsequent treatment, then how would you, the student, judge Mr. Routh if you were a member of the jury?
(The apps listed are generally free. However, occasionally there may be a charge. $=$.99 up to $1.25. $$=$1.99 $$$=$2.99)
The Stroop Effect
Available for both iOS and Android
(click on the appropriate link for your needs to be taken to the info page)
Description (from the Google Play Store)
“The Stroop Effect is a demonstration of interference in the reaction time of a task. When the name of a color (e.g., “blue,” “green,” or “red”) is printed in a color not denoted by the name (e.g., the word “red” printed in blue ink instead of red ink), naming the color of the word takes longer and is more prone to errors than when the color of the ink matches the name of the color. The effect is named after John Ridley Stroop who first published the effect in English in 1935. The effect had previously been published in Germany in 1929. The original paper has been one of the most cited papers in the history of experimental psychology, leading to more than 700 replications. The effect has been used to create a psychological test (Stroop Test) that is widely used in clinical practice and investigation.”
This is a fun app to work with an entire class room or to set up a mini two person experiment in your class (like pair-&-share). You can simple hold up your tablet in front of the class, give instructions, and then collect data. It is informative, entertaining, and demonstrates a number of processes. This can be an easy 10 minute demonstration activity.
Description: While there are many known functions of sleep, scientists now believe that another function that occurs during the sleep cycles is the cleaning out and clearing the brain of toxins that have built up throughout the waking day. The scientists call this the “glymphatic system” in that it involves the glial cells of the brain and works similar to the lymphatic system. The article will interest even those who are not physiologically oriented in that it discusses sleep issues and how these impact daily living. The researchers look to applying this new discovery to developing new sleep therapies.
Xie et al, (2013), Sleep Drives Metabolite Clearance from the Adult Brain
Science 18 October 2013, Vol. 342 no. 6156, pp. 373-377
CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
•What are the functions of Sleep? (in general)
•According to the article, what else is happening in the brain during sleep?
•How do the activities of daily living impact our sleep?
•What are the consequences (short and long term) of sleep deprivation?
•Based upon this new research, what types of therapies might be developed?
Description: This NY Times Magazine article discusses the chromosomal abnormality called Prader-Willi syndrome which eventually causes a continual food craving and the problem of never feeling full or satisfied. The article begins with a case discussion of a young woman and her development from birth through adolescence and difficulties the parents have experienced coping with the problem. The article describes the syndrome as well as the brain and physiological factors involved in this disorder. Further the article discusses the social and cultural factors in the day to day lives of children and adults who experience the disorder.
•What is the Prader-Willi Syndrome?
•How does it develop from birth to adolescence?
•What are believed to be the causes and subsequent symptoms?
•How does the Prader-Willi Syndrome parallel what is known about the physiological factors in hunger regulation? What parts of the brain are involved?
•This article is a good one that delineates the BioPsychoSocial perspectives in understanding human behavior and disorders. Assign three group to cover each of the perspectives for a full analysis of the syndrome.
This site from the Chronicle of Higher Education is specifically for you, the professor. This week’s entries feature two articles from the Chronicle Of Higher Education section VITAE. This section of the CHE is aimed at a sympathetic understanding of what, you the professor, must deal with on a week-to-week basis. The two chosen for this week focus on what happens in the interaction between professor and student around student excuses. This is informative and entertaining.
The first looks at faculty reactions and strategies regarding students who have not purchased their textbooks at least four weeks into the semester. The second looks at student excuses for missing the midterm: the passing of their grandmother (again and again).
#1 Dear Student: It’s February and You Still Don’t Have Your Textbook?
Four articles are presented this week. Each deals with the common theme of scientific and critical thinking about events in the news. These can be used for a discussion (see at the end) of viewing events through a “social science lens.” You may decide to pick and choose which article is of most usefulness for your teaching purposes.
ARTICLE #1: “The Vaccine Lunacy: Disneyland, Measles and Madness”
Description: Frank Bruni, an op ed columnist at the New York Times, discusses how “personal opinions” trump scientific data. Regarding the recent measles outbreak in late 2014 and early 2015, he blasts how those in the “anti-vaccine movement reflect a chilling disregard for science.” Additionally he briefly mentions those who deny climate science and those who support faddish diet aides without reliable scientific evidence.
ARTICLE #2: “British Journal Retracts Paper Linking Autism and Vaccines”
Description: This article addresses the serious ethical issues of Dr. Andrew Wakefield in his drawing conclusions that the MMR vaccination was a cause of autism. Dr. Wakefield’s work triggered the anti-vaccine movement, and though discredited, the work is still used as “proof” that vaccines are responsible for autism. “A British medical panel concluded … that Dr. Wakefield had been dishonest, violated basic research ethics rules and showed a “callous disregard” for the suffering of children involved in his research.”
ARTICLE #3: “Groundhog Day 2015: Punxsutawney Phil Sees Shadow, Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter”
Description: Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this year predicting another six weeks of weather. Since 1887, Americans have looked to Phil as the prognosticator of weather. Is Phil accurate? How many times has he been right? Wrong? Worshipping a giant rodent is a custom left over from medieval times celebrating the midpoint of the winter season hoping for an early spring. Science and superstition walk hand-in-hand in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania
ARTICLE #4: “Appeals Court Upholds Need for Scientific Evidence of Disease-Related Claims for Food”
Description: An appeals court ruling forbade a pomegranate juice company from making healthy medical claims about it’s product. The brief report points out that claims “cited those studies in advertisements to suggest that consuming pomegranates could help people fight heart disease, prostate cancer, or erectile dysfunction.” Problems in the type of research conducted are mentioned in the article.
Source: Chronicle of Higher Education: The Ticker by Ruth Hammond
DESCRIPTION: Two brief articles (accompanied by videos) that are to serve as PSA (public service announcements) regarding domestic violence. The first is headlined in Time Magazine as “Watch the Chilling New Domestic Violence Ad You’ll See During the Super Bowl.” The article points out that the PSA is based on an actual 911 call for help. The second brief article and video are part of the NFL’s campaign to end domestic violence and features a number of well known football players.
Based upon Social Psychology, what is an “attitude” and what is “persuasion.” Do studies show that a PSA can change (persuade) an attitude? Do the PSA commercials regarding abuse have elements that meet criteria for attitudinal shifts?
Based upon social science data, what are the causes of domestic abuse? Does the Bio-Psycho-Social model help in the explanation?
From what is known from Social Learning Theory and Bandura’s work: how would these psychologists account for domestic abuse in families? What role does media play in both facilitating and inhibiting abuse and family violence?
Ask the students: how do the explanations of a social scientist differ from those of the lay person (everyday person) regarding the causes and “cures” for abuse?
Ask the students: how do the explanations of a social scientist differ from those of the lay person (everyday person) regarding whether a campaign such as this to end domestic violence will be effective or not?
Description: This Huffington Post article cites a study from the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences. It discusses how researchers using virtual reality experiments gave their subjects the opportunity to experience their bodies with different color skins, ages, and gender. The results suggested that unconscious racial biases could be reduced by having an individual become more empathetic by “walking in another’s shoes” and thus lessen unconscious racial stereotypes. The Huffington Post article posts both graphics and video illustrations of the virtual reality employed in the study that can be used in class or powerpoints.
Source: The Huffington Post by Almendrala and Cooper-White
Wiley Author, Catherine A. Sanderson, writes a bi-weekly blog about social norms, the unwritten rules that shape our behavior. Visit her Norms Matter blog at www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/norms-matter.
Welcome to Psychology Weekly Updates
Every Monday through December, you will find wonderful resources to enhance your teaching and to engage your students in discussions. With each “published” edition, you will discover two or three interesting provocative articles to use as “triggers” to discuss important issues that relate to your teaching content, subject matter, and/or important issues. The choice of the articles is such that students can find these on popular periodicals and sites such as the New York Times, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, and read them without the pressure of going to the library or poring through their textbook. The popular media choices are easy to find without the need for subscription services; these are often articles that you might have read and brought up in your class. Further, the update will include a few questions that can be used to get a discussion started.
In addition to a listing of the articles, you will also be presented with a few websites for use in your teaching. The websites can be useful informative resources for both your teaching preparation and for student use. Lastly, every week, you will find either an App Of The Week listing, occasionally YouTube video, or a Podcast that will both enhance your teaching and presentations. If you have any suggestions please contact me.
