- Unlocking The Secrets Of The Brain – Matt Roser
Matt Roser researches the brain at Plymouth University. In this podcast, he talks about split brain research and about where brain research is going now. He refers to the new centre opening up next to the Derriford Hospital which you can read about here. This centre is used both for diagnosis and for research, bringing the two fields together.
2) Gaming Disorder
We use Gaming Disorder as an example of how abnormality is defined. This article explains how referrals to the clinic which deals with this disorder have increased substantially during the pandemic. The big question is why this should be and whether there is any more Gaming Disorder out there than there used to be. It helps to think about our definitions of psychological disorder. Perhaps parents see their children as failing to function adequately because they have less opportunity to enjoy other activities because of cover restrictions. Perhaps children fulfil the criteria for mental health less readily than before. Their gaming is seen as the primary reason for this. Perhaps as parents spend more time with their children, they see them spending more time on gaming than they would regard as normal.
3) The Joy Of AI
This programme presented by Jim Al Khalili is available for a month or so. It deals with the complex relationship between computing and our evolving understanding of how the brain works. In lessons, I have been keen to stress how the way we think about the brain is influenced by how we think about computers. The opening section of this programme explains how the way in which computers were built in the 1960s was influenced by what people thought about how the brain works.
4) Connecting With Nature And Migration
We’ve been thinking through our class practical about the benefits of green space. This article looks specifically at the importance of green space in helping migrants connect to memories of the place from which they have migrated.
5) This Is Your Brain On Food
Several interesting strands here from SciShow, some of which are relevant to our course.
6) Cognitive Flexibility
Some research going on in Cambridge now is described here.
DHSB/DHSG Psychology Research Digest 