Darkthorn’s Blog

- The information processing approach o Sensory store (input device) à Short term store (central processor) à Long term store (library of files). – Stage theory sensory inputà Sensory memory àattentionà Working memory àencodingà Long term memory Un-attending info. Un-rehearsed info Some info. lost is quickly lost is quickly lost over time – Levels of [...]

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Buddhism – Logbook Exercise 2.1 From your understanding of Buddhism to date, are features such as dogmatism, exclusivism and paternalism characteristic or uncharacteristic of Buddhism. Give reasons for your answers. The Japanese Buddhist movements, mentioned in Fenner (2005, p. 40), are said to be ‘strongly nationalistic, dogmatic, missionary, charismatic and paternalistic’. These characteristics are not [...]

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- Carbohydrates o Brain only stores enough glucose for 10 mins, must have a constant supply – 75% for signalling, 25% of basic cellular activity o Glucose is critical for the production of neurotransmitters (hypoglycaemia leading to coma and death) – Amino Acids o 8 essential amino acids o Building blocks for new proteins, neurotransmitters [...]

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- fast response to perturbation via nerves – pervasive into glands, smooth muscle, heart, eyes, sex organs – flexible, two divisions in most organs, with more than one neurotransmitter involved – function of maintaining homeostasis – sympathetic or parasympathetic – cortex, limbic and thalamus also involved in ANS Sympathetic – ‘flight or fight’ – division [...]

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Hinduism – Logbook Exercise 1.3 Why is dharma considered the most important principle around which a Hindu’s life is organized? Dharma is the most significant belief of Hinduism, organizing an otherwise rough society. Weightman, (1998, p. 279) describes it as the complete ‘right way of living for Hindu’s’, the sum of all teachings offered by [...]

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PNS nerve fibres regenerate depending on their location Schwann cells guide the regeneration of cut axons CNS repair and functional regeneration is limited myelin associated inhibitory factors astrocyte scar formation and age related decline in repair mechanisms Spinal Cord Damage mainly due to cell death, inflammation, expanding cysts and glial scarring, also degenerating tracts, demylination [...]

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Carbohydrate Catabolism During the preparatory stage of glycolysis, the molecule of glucose is phosphorylated, and converted into two molecules of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. This requires the use of two ATP molecules. In the payoff phase, the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate is converted to pyruvate. This releases four ATP molecules, and produces two NADH molecules. In the preparatory phase the phosphate [...]

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learning – the acquisition of new information or knowledge memory – the retention and accessing of learned information classes of memory short term – phonological loop visuospatial sketchpad long term – declarative (facts, places, events) perceptual nondeclaritive (subconscious) relies on physical changes in neuronal circuits reinforcement of particular synaptic pathways changes in membrane receptors hippocampal/medial [...]

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Regeneration of the Nervous System – Peripheral nervous system axons can be repaired and regenerated to restore function (only partially, and connections are not always as efficient) due to Schwann cell mylination. – Central nervous system cannot be replaced (oligodendrocytes). – Environmental factors effect whether the axon’s growth cone is able to repair the damage [...]

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Mammalian Models – Primates – very similar to humans, and have large brains. Live for long periods of time, need lots of living space, and are expensive to keep. – Large mammals – less similar to humans, and still live for long periods of time. – Small mammals – still similar to humans, but brain [...]

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