Biology 202 Web Paper 1
The Power of Positive Thinking: The Placebo Effect
Submitted by Mimi N. on Tue, 04/08/2008 - 9:41am.Wouldn’t it be great if eating some sugar could alleviate pain, cure a cold, or even cancer? Recent studies suggest this may be possible due to a placebo effect.
In Latin the word “placebo” means “I will please.” In the medical field a placebo is known as a pharmacologically inert substance which may produce therapeutic results because of the belief in its efficacy (1). In research, a placebo is an inactive substance or procedure, which on its own has no effect, used as a control. A placebo effect takes place when the subject given the placebo demonstrates similar results as the experimental substance or procedure (3).
Psychopaths and Sociopaths
Submitted by Allison Z on Wed, 03/12/2008 - 1:02am.
Throughout modern history, there has been
an abundance of interest regarding the concept of the psychopath and
sociopath. Many portrayals of sociopaths seem to be overly
romanticized, and fictional characters such as Hannibal Lector or
Dexter Morgan (Silence of the Lambs and Dexter respectively) are
sources of fascination for an uneducated public. It is difficult
when watching such characterizations to discern what is true and what
is fantastical about their portrayal, and that is why I began
researching psychopaths and sociopaths. While the information I
found was educational, it is clear that there is some confusion as to
how exactly one can define these mental disorders, even among the
scientific community.
I could SWEAR I've Been Here Before...
Submitted by llamprou on Mon, 03/03/2008 - 4:39pm.
What is Déj
Autism's Possible Implications for the Mind and Brain
Submitted by akk on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 12:52pm.
Autism
affects one in 166 children born in the United States and has doubled in
prevalence over the past decade. This disorder has tragic repercussions for the
children diagnosed with it and remains a mystery without a known cure. My
autistic cousin Katie lives daily with the weight of this disorder and I intend
to explore in this paper the repercussions it holds for many facets of her
life.
What Part of the Brain is Responsible for Moral Reasoning?
Submitted by Paige Safyer on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 10:58am.What Part of the Brain is Responsible for Moral Reasoning?
Is This a Banana? How do you know?
Submitted by Nelly Khaselev on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 7:49am.The word synesthesia comes from two Greek words, syn (together) and aisthesis (perception); so synesthesia literally means, "joined perception." (1) I became interested in synesthesia when I learned a friend of mine has this neurologically based phenomenon. She associates colors with letters of the alphebete – most known case of synesthesia to the public. Synesthesia, however, can involve any two or more senses. Current research suggest that “wires” in a person’s brain between two or more sense are crossed, therefor producing the phenomon of tasting sounds and hearing tasts or any other unique combination.
The Pathway to Shy
Submitted by Simone Emily on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 3:44am.
The notion
of “shyness” is something most of us know quite well. In fact, according to prevalence studies,
somewhere around 40-50% of American adults have first-hand experience on what
it’s like to be chronically shy (1).
Although differing from the Big Five personality trait of introversion,
in that shy people are in fact fearful of social interaction while introverts
merely prefer solitary environments, chronic shyness is often categorized as a
characteristic trait (2). The precursor
for this shyness trait is frequently cited as the temperament of behavioral
Senses Working Overtime: Exploring Synesthesia
Submitted by Skye Harmony on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 3:04am.
I'd Rather Not: Hypnosis and the I-Function
Submitted by Jessica Varney on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 12:48am.
Needles and Nerves: How Neuropathy Challenges Notions of a Single Self
Submitted by eambash on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 7:11pm.
This feels like my ordinary nighttime
routine: yellow light, static screen, wooden chair, pins and needles. Needles and pins? My foot has fallen asleep again – and yet, as
that thought comes to me, I immediately question it: has my foot itself really
turned off, or is it just that my mind has stopped registering the foot? Is my foot ignoring stimuli from the outside
world, or is it simply unable to deliver the stimuli it does receive to my
brain? I wonder what the relationship is
between numbness and neurology. If I
don’t feel a body part, does that automatically mean the part isn’t working? What if no “part” even exists outside of my
