Graphic by Eilidh McNaughton By Ellie PinkertonFor centuries scientists have struggled to explain the inner workings and physiological mechanisms of human behavior and in fact, up until recent decades, have only been able to hypothesize complex behaviors using a relatively superficial functional understanding of the brain. Modern methods at a molecular level have brought us a deeper understanding of the neural circuitry that modulates higher-order human functions that span from attention, to decision-making, and addiction.
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Graphic by Eilidh McNaughton By Eilidh McNaughtonIn his inauguration speech, President Joe Biden called for unity in a time when the American political landscape is as divided as ever before. He stated that “unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days, I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real”. The political polarisation in America is hard to ignore. Insights from psychological research into how people learn and respond to information can explain, in part, the reason for the divide in America and elsewhere. One contributing factor is the phenomenon of motivated reasoning. This term explains how people access, construct, and evaluate arguments in a biased way to arrive at their preferred conclusion. Although sometimes people are motivated to come to accurate conclusions about a topic, this term is commonly used to describe humans’ bias towards information that confirms our pre-existing believes.
By Maja MilewskaDuring a surgical procedure, called lobotomy or leucotomy, a surgeon would drill a pair of holes in the skull, either at its side or top and insert a sharp tool into the brain. The doctor would then proceed to stir the instrument from side to side, severing the nerve pathways between the frontal lobe, and the rest of the brain.
Nowadays, lobotomy is considered a disparaged, ethically dubious procedure. But in the 1930s and 1940s, it was believed to be a miracle cure for various mental illnesses to such an extent that its creator was awarded a Nobel Prize. What are the origins of the procedure and why is it no longer performed? |