Download - Brainstorming II
Brainstorming II
PSYC 674.101
Topics
• Nutritional Neuroscience
• The “self” effect and evolution
• Stress and cognitive performance
• Your ideas…
Systems and Circuits
Multiple levels of organizationMultiple levels of organization
Synapses and Neurons
Genes and Molecules
Behavior and Cognition
Free radicals: ROSany species capable of independent existence
that contains one or more unpaired electrons • hydroxyl radicals • lipid oxyl or peroxyl radicals• singlet oxygen• peroxinitrite
free radicals "steal" electrons from the lipids in cell membranes, resulting in cell damage.
Antioxidantsmolecules capable of slowing or preventing
the oxidation of other molecules
• Vitamin C and E
• Various enzymes – Catalase– Superoxide dismutase– Peroxidases
The “hot” antioxidants
• Polyphenols – plant derived chemicals containing more than one phenol group– Flavonoids – secondary metabolites (not
directly involved in growth and development but may contribute to long-term survival and fecundity).
• Proanthocyanin, Procyanidinwas discovered in 1936 by Jacques Masquelier and called vitamin P (associated with the color in fruits and bitter taste of seeds).
can procyanidins improve cognition?
• Red wine• Tea• Cocoa• Berry fruit
Presumably through antioxidant activity but other mechanisms related to signal transduction are possible.
The wine diethttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/global/2006/11/27/hwinediet27.xml
naked scientist segment…
Cocoa may be better than wine and tea
Comparison of cocoa products
Comparison of Cocoa products
Stawberries improved
hippocampal-based place
learning, blueberries improved
striatal-based reversal learning
Gogi (wolf) berries
ORAC measures
The “self effect”
Julian Keenan http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/season1_2005.html
Seeing oneself (with the right hemisphere) in computer-generated morphs….
Perhaps one evolutionary advantage is to “see” oneself in real morphs that are a 50/50 genetic combination of two people, aiding in paternal identification.
Stress effects
Is there a sex difference in the “half-life of the ANS”?
Would a psychologically-induced stressor influence learning performance?
Robert Sapolsky on Radio LabWhere am I http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2006/05/05
(3:38 – phantom limbs segment)
Stress http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2005/02/11 (15:00 - )