Evolution of Language

"The limits of my language means the limits of my world" -Ludwig Wittgenstein

            Human communication differs from the communication of other species.  Human language is a system allowing vast numbers of ideas, hopes, dreams, wishes, and feelings to be expressed by combining a finite set of rules.  It is difficult to imagine limitations to what was just described.  What if we were not able to speak or readily communicate?

          Would we find ourselves like our nonhuman primates who cannot tell a story, but simply state their present situations.  Although other species can correspond via vocalizations and gestures their communication serves for warning purposes, unlike humans they cannot express new ideas.  "Language has been called a human instinct because it is so readily and universally learned by infants" (Golinkoff & Hirsh-Pasek, 2006).  This statement really got my attention and got me thinking.  It is interesting to me that humans have evolved in so many ways.  Such as our looks, the way we live, our brain, and our language.  In thinking about any type of evolution a  typical caveman image comes to my mind.  Grunting, yet somehow communicating with fellow cavemen.  Studies propose that human language may have evolved from a capability in understanding that already existed in our primate ancestors.  This to me makes sense being that chimpanzees for instance can interpret many sounds, yet they do not apply excellent motor control over their voices. 

            Communication, whether it be language, sign language, pictures, etc. is an important aspect in our everyday lives which is why this particular topic was so appealing to me.  It was interesting to learn how our brain and what part of our brain is responsible for this.  "Language is the most lateralized cognitive function" (Pinel 426).  

          I found this video and thought that it corresponds to what I am rambling on about.  I also found that it further intrigued me.  Take a look!        

Benefits of Cognitive and Physical Exercise

"The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not" -Mark Twain      

            After a long day at work or school or in some instances both it is natural to want to go home and just relax.  Lay down and watch TV, or simply go to sleep and throughout this hectic day it is so much easier and faster to pick up some fast food instead of having a good healthy sit down meal.  I myself am guilty of both things mentioned.  It seems to me that it is so much more difficult and more expensive for us to stay healthy.  For example, when we do go get our 'fast-food' there is the healthy option of a salad, but the salad alone is six dollars while a burger, fries, and a drink is also six dollars or less.

            What I am getting at are the benefits of cognitive and physical exercise.  In the long run I am going to wish I had exercised after school or work.  I am also going to wish I had ordered the salad instead of that delicious cheap burger.  Studies have shown that, "individuals who are cognitively and physically active are less likely to contract neurological disorders; and if they do, their symptoms tend to be less severe and their recovery better" (Sarkamo et al., 2008).  However, in such correlational studies there are constantly problems of  understanding.  Do more active people tend to have healthier neurological outcomes because they are indeed active, or are they inclined to be more active since they are less ill?  To answer this question there was an experiment done to study the neurological benefits of animal models of epilepsy, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Down syndrome and different forms of stroke and traumatic brain damage in an 'enriched environment' which promotes cognitive and physical activity.  The end result was what you probably expected.  A healthier lifestyle may not completely cure, but it does make a big difference in a good way.      

Synapses, Drugs, and Addiction

            Drugs have been around since the beginning of time both for medical and recreational purposes, and many of these drugs are extracts of plants.  A good example of both points would be extracts of belladonna plant that ancient Greeks consumed to take care of stomach ailments and to make themselves more beautiful.  Greek women thought that the pupil-dilating effects of these extracts enhanced their attractiveness (belladonna literally means beautiful lady).

            Without the experimentation or research of drugs things would be so different.  Psychological disorders would be different.  Would people with schizophrenia be able to live among us and lead average lives without medication?  I am going to take a wild guess and answer no to that question.  Which brings me to why I am so enthralled by this particular subject (synapses, drugs, and addiction).  Drugs obviously affect synaptic transmission, but how?  Well there are seven steps, "1. synthesis of neurotransmitter, 2. storage in vesicles, 3. break-down in the cytoplasm of any neurotransmitter that leaks from the vesicles, 4. exocytosis, 5. inhibitory feedback via autoreceptors, 6. activation of postsynaptic receptors, and 7. deactivation" (Pinel 95).  There are two types of drug effects known as agonistic, and antagonistic.  The way to distinguish between the two is to remember that in agonistic the drug increases the synthesis of neurotransmitter molecules.  While on the other hand when thinking about antagonistic drug effects I think of the literal meaning of antagonist, opponent (or an easier way, antagonist=anti).  Which means that unlike agonistic which increases the synthesis of the neurotransmitter molecules antagonistic drug effects block the synthesis. Of course there are other differences but these are the main differences. 

            We have come a long way since belladonna, and although some of these medications help we must also think about the side effects and the fact that they do not always work.  Most medications do not cure, they just get rid of symptoms.  However, they can produce symptoms of their own.  It is an important topic to research, because I am certain that there will be more discoveries.             

Nerve Impulse

I wish life was like science, and by this I mean that everything is either black or white.  I wish I could view the world as a scientist, fact or fiction.  Unfortunately things are not always that simple. 

            I suppose the 'All or Nothing Law' interested me because of its black and white nature.  For those who do not know or fully understand the all or nothing law it has to do with nerve impulse.  Basically when stimuli causes an adequate amount of sodium ions to enter the cell, this happens in order to alter the membrane potential  to a point known as the 'threshold' level.  Once at the threshold level action potential is reached.  If depolarization is not sufficient enough to get to threshold,  then action potential as well as an impulse will not be created.  This is the all or nothing law.  To make a long story short ion channels are either open or closed.  There is no middle position.  The way nerve impulse works reminds me of the sodium-potassium pump.  The difference is that the sodium-potassium pump is driven by the breakdown of energy unlike the nerve impulse which is due to voltage.        

            Another reason for my fascination is the fact that these microscopic neurons or as I like to call them little mail men, deliver impulse/information that affect us in our everyday lives.  It is crazy to when you stop and actually think about it.  Things such as touch, motion, and stretching is controlled by this stimuli that starts the nerve impulses.

            If you would like to share my enthrallment I suggest watching this video           

 

Introduction to Pysiological Psychology

“Biology gives you a brain, life turns it into a mind.” –Jeffrey Euginedes

In my opinion the concept of nature vs. nurture has always been interesting.  It is like comparing science and religion.  I believe that both topics are allies, not enemies.  One is simply too young to understand the other.  The notion of nature and/or nurture has a long and complex history.  It seems that every time one or the other was discredited it resurfaced in a vaguely tailored form. 

The reason I find this particular topic to be so enthralling is simply because we all technically have the same brain, with all the same parts yet we are so completely different.  No two people are alike and it comes down to the way we are raised and the way we just are.  We have all read the books, seen the movies, or seen the television shows where a smart individual from a good home and good family does terrible things or vice versa.  When the person from the good family does something bad the parents always seem to ask themselves, “where did I go wrong”, perhaps they did nothing wrong it was simply in their nature, the fact that they were nurtured well simply suppressed what was truly underneath.   (Of course this is just my thoughts on the matter).                      

Some still debate this topic, however, the question has changed from “is it nature or nurture” to “how much is genetic, and how much is the result of experience”.  John P.J. Pinel the author of Biopsychology 8^th edition ends the topic with three very good points to think about, “1. Neurons become active long before they are fully developed; 2. The subsequent course of their development depends on their activity; 3. Experience continuously modifies genetic expression”.