Move It, Move It!

Hi Everyone!

You may remember me showing you in class the Madagascar video of "I Like To Move It, Movie It" (Below). We discussed how exercise benefits one's wellness not only cardiovascularly, but also increases your Norepinephrine, Serotonin & Endorphins resulting in higher self-confidence & discipline, an increase in energy, a decrease in depression, anxiety and tension and improves your cognitive functioning.

Well, some recent research has found more evidence of exercise benefitting cognitive function. Exercise seems to help prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease in the early stages. One could speculate if it is preventing memory cells from dying in those with Alzheimer's, it may do the same on a smaller scale for those of us without Alzheimers.

Another studied mentioned in this report found it also helped these patients with their balance and as a result they did not fall as often...which as you know can have severe consequences in the elderly. How is your memory & balance? :-) Why don't you grab an older family member & start to Move It, Move It!

Find Your Inner Genius!

If you recall I provided some information on Why Intelligent People Fail and 10 Antithetical Traits of Creative People. The June/July issue of Scientific American Mind contains a panel discussion on how to Let Your Creativity Soar. The panel in this article believes that creativity is not just something you are born with, as many believe, but rather teachable and provide the skills needed. They also feel when children are young teachers squash their creativity and that parents have negative attitudes about more creative careers like artists. I am in total agreement!!! Creativity is needed in all areas of your life, personal, academic and professionally, no matter what career you go into. Take a look at the article if you would like to be more creative!

I have two personal examples which supports the the article. The first is I tend to get very creative when I'm biking or treadmilling. Sometimes the ideas are flowing so fast I really do need to stop & write them down. The second, supports the "taking a break" idea. When I was working on my Masters I stayed up very late trying to come up with an idea for my Advance Research Methods class. It was only after I laid down to go to sleep & in the "semisleep state" they mention in the article the idea visually popped in my head. I kept my eyes closed, grabbed a tablet off my desk next to me & wrote it all out. Then I opened my eyes and got up & rewrote it all out nicely. Yes, I had a very sound sleep after that and the idea blew everyone away! :-)

Another New Book!

Hi Everyone!

I have another suggestion of a new book which will be coming out soon. If you recall on your extra credit list I have Tom Friedman's "The World Is Flat" book listed & some videos to watch. (You can also sign up for free download Giveaway for this book & preview of the new one!) Mr. Friedman has received the Pultizer Prize 3 Times!!! His newest book "Hot, Flat & Crowded: Why We Need A Green Revolution - And How It Can Renew America" is scheduled to be available Sept 8th! I have asked the LRC to order this book as well. We do have The World is Flat in the LRC now. Watch for him to be on tv about this book. You may find him on YouTube etc. He appears on Charlie Rose (WTTW) quite often.

Are You Twisted?

How does one even define "Twisted"? If you recall when we discussed how one defines a behavior as Abnormal the behavior had to harm yourself or others and one had to consider the time period, culture and context in which the behavior was performed. As you will see in the following article...behaviors you may have thought might be Abnormal or Twisted just may not be. Intriqued? :-)

We were discussing being alone in class and the current issue of Psychology Today has a cover story "Typically Twisted" which interestingly includes a piece on some people preferring to be alone. (You'll need to use your school ID # for the link or read in from the magazine in the LRC or BN). If you go to #6 you will find a section "Solitude Is Bliss" where Jonathan Cheek from Wellesly College explains there are Introverts who really do not experience anxiety. He also says there are shy people who are quite secure & just don't need to affiliate with people as much as others. They have quite fulfilling lives without being as social as others.

There are many other topics discussed which relate to course content as well and just may have you reconsidering what "Twisted" or "Abnormal" is!

1. Slacker's Lament about having no ambition
2. The Dead Zone about having a morbid sense of humor
3. Not Tonight Dear or Ever about not desiring sex
4. Quirky, Kinky, or Creepy about unusual sex fantasies
5. An Infinite Loop about keeping secrets
7. Mommy's Favorite about loving one child more than another

How Sweet It Is!

Are you using Splenda or other sweetners & finding you are not losing weight or perhaps your even gaining? You might like to take a look at this article "Artificial Sweeteners Confound the Brain; May Lead to Diet Disaster" in Scientific American Mind by Lisa Conti. This certainly extends upon our discussion of Motivation of Hunger & Eating Behavior.

New Book

Hi Everyone!

Philip Zimbardo, who conducted the famous Prison Experiment, has a new book coming out in August with John Boyd. It is called The Time Paradox - The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life. If you click on the link you can scroll down & on the left there is a link to read an excerpt & see the table of contents. I've pre-ordered a copy myself. I'll try to have the LRC order it as well.

Got Motivation?

Hi Everyone!

Whenever you are feeling a bit unmotivated, proscratinating etc just take a look at this video! Amazing! It is working for me! When I'm on my treadmill or Total Gym and I'm feeling tired I just think of him and there is no way I can quit! :-)

Total Recall

How many of you have trouble remembering things? Lets see...the grocery list, birthdays & anniversaries (ok ask your wives & girlfriends that one!), homework, where you parked your car, questions on exams....? Ya, I thought so! Wouldn't it be just great if we never forgot anything? We have such an amazing brain when you think of it, not a hard thing to ask of it huh? :-)

I'm sure you've heard the phrase "Be Careful What You Wish For"? You just may not want to remember everything! Take it from a woman whose brain can remember so much more than many of us! She goes by "AJ" and I have a link on your extra credit list "Memory Article" on her (remember to click continue on the bottom!) but she is also in the most current issue of Psychology Today (July/August)! This one you'll have to go to the LRC or Barnes & Noble to read on page 42-43. She doesn't quite remember everything, but she has an extraordinary memory ability and it is not always so great to have. Remember Dr. Jim McGaugh in the Memory videoclip we saw in class (the one with the clarinet!), she has been studied by him. Look at what she mentions and what was discussed in the videoclip!!!

So next time you forget something maybe you won't feel quite so bad! :-)

How Does She Remember That?

Hi Everyone!

Do you remember the comment I made in class about one gender seems to recall past events during arguments better than another? Well there is research to support this & I didn't have to go very far to find it. Again in the current issue of Scientific American Mind (June/July) you will find a piece on how women's memory for faces and verbal information does seem to be better than men's.

Got Glials?

Well all of you hopefully remember reading in your text about the Neuron & how it fires electrical impulses. Guess what? They are not the only exciting part of the brain (sorry! Ha!)

If you look at this small piece in the current issue of Scientific American Mind (June/July) you'll read researchers from Stanford University have found that some Glial Cells (page 45 & 559 in your text) also fire electrical impulses & may keep our brain cells healthy!

Welcome!

Hi Everyone!

I've decided to create a separate blog for those who can't get enough from class, reading your text etc! :-) I'll post on interesting pieces from the APA, magazines on the stand, the internet etc. There will be a wide variety of topics pertaining to my Intro, Social & Abnormal courses.