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Showing posts from 2012

Psychology: Sleeping

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Sleep Deprivation / Sleep Loss - Being prevented from getting the desired or needed amounts of sleep - Typically causes trembling hands, dropping eyelids, inattention, irritability, staring, increase pain sensitivity and general discomfort (Doran, Van Dongen and Dinges, 2001) - If you lose just one hour of sleep at night, it can affect your mood, memory, ability to pay attention and even your health (Mass, 1999) Normal range of sleep - Majority of us sleep on a 7 to 8 hour per night schedule Sleep hormone - A sleep-promoting substance found in the brain and spinal cord Beta Waves - Small, fast brain waves associated with being awake and alert Alpha waves - Large, slow brain waves associated with relaxation and falling asleep; also occur when you are relaxed and allow your thoughts to drift Non-REM sleep function - Increases after physical exertion and may help us recover from body fatigue REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement sleep) - Day-time stress tends to increase

Psychology: Roles of Genes

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The genes uses a chemical alphabet to write instructions for the development of brain and body and the manufacturer or chemicals that affect mental health, learning, emotions, personality traits and everything we do. What is gene? Chains of chemicals arranged like rungs on a twisting ladder There are about 20,000 to 25,000 genes that contain chemical instructions equal to about 300,000 pages of typed instructions (IHGSC, 2004) The chemical instructions program the development of millions of individual parts into a complex body or brain.

Science: Organic Compounds

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Protein Most abundant organic compound Fundamental structural and functional frameworks of the cell’s protoplasm Kinds: Structural/Fibrous protein – build and repair body cell tissues Globular/Enzymatic protein – biological catalyst in almost every chemical reaction Nucleic acid DNA and RNA Carbohydrates Chief energy source Backbone of molecules When combined with protein, they form glycoproteins and proteoglycans Classifications: Monosaccharide – simple sugar which serves as building blocks for more complex forms like glucose, fructose, galactose Disaccharides – formed by chemical combination of 2 monosaccharides but with removal of water molecules (like maltose, sucrose, lactose) Polysaccharide – series of monosaccharides Starch – serves as units of glucose Glycogen – stored carbohydrates found in animals Cellulose – insoluble carbohydrate; abundant in the tough outer wall of plant cells Chitin – exoskeleton of animals Lipids Fats and oils Ser