Discussion of Perception, Executive Functions, Behavioral Therapy and Pavlovian Conditioning - Assignment Example

Due Discussion Board Posts Question Sensory and perception is, essentially, a process. Many people usethe terms perception and memory as if they are the same thing, however that is not the case. Perception and memory are, in fact, distinct terms with different definitions, all be it, they are “complementary” in purpose and process. Sensation can be defined as the taking in of the outside world and bringing it inside the body and sent to the brain. The brain then begins the process of organizing, sorting, and recognizing the information that has arrived. Then it interprets that information, this is perception; here the image, sound, or smell is determined to be “meaningful” or relevant information or not. This is considered a passive process as it is an involuntary response to stimuli and you are not in control of it.("Sensation and perception," 2013) Our memories are essential for all of us, if we hope to learn anything, remember tasks to accomplish, or recognize anyone important to us. Experts explain that there are 3 major elements making up the process of making memories. First, “encoding,” which is the process of the brain taking the information it has received and change its form so that it can be stored. A memory can be stored, or encoded, in three specific ways, as an image, a sound, or as semantic, which means having a special meaning. The next category is “memory storage,” which is the point when the brain will decide what is to be stored and for how long. A memory can be held for a lifetime or for as little as 30 seconds, dependent on the perceived importance of the memory. The last element of the memory process is “memory retrieval,” which is, if course an important part of memory, the ability to remember it. When we remember things from our short term memory items are stored and remembered them as a sequence of events, however if the item is stored and remembered in the long term memory they are retrieved by association.(McLeod, 2007) The two concepts are interconnected clearly. if there are issues within someone’s sensory perception then it can affect their ability to have that information properly processed, as well as, vice-versa, if something is wrong with the memory function, for example an Alzheimer’s patient, then it will have a negative effect on their ability to recognize and therefore properly perceive information stimulus that they receive. References Sensation and perception. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.alleydog.com/101notes/s&p.html McLeod, S. (2007). Stages of memory - encoding storage and retrieval. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/memory.html Question 2 The frontal lobe coordinates the number of mental skills, called executive functions, which includes time management, attention span, ability to focus, ability to organize effectively, and the ability to integrate the events of past and present. Dysfunction in these skills will deteriorate those skills, which can affect one’s ability to attend school, attend and complete work tasks, and maintain healthy social relationships. Dysfunctional of executive function can have several causes; brain injury, Alzheimer’s, and birth defects, are just a few. Determining the presents frontal lobe dysfunction is essential in the hope of diagnosing, treating, and ideally, improving the patient’s condition. ("What is executive," 2012) The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, or WCST, is a commonly used psychological assessment that is proven itself as an affective indicator of dysfunctions of executive functions. The test itself used 64 to 128 cards, depending upon the test form, and the individuals being tested are asked to sort cards according to altering sorting approaches at differing intervals throughout the test. Essentially, if forces the individual to pay close attention and organization abilities to accomplish successfully; from problem solving to abstract reasoning and from goal selection to ability to maintain attention on task at hand. How well or poorly this is accomplished helps determine how dysfunctional the skills have become and how compromised is the frontal lobe may be to allow the individual to be less capable of performing those tasks.(McGrath, 2013) In the case study given, because Susan’s impairments were not caused by disorder, injury, or defect, but were, in fact, environmental, then her return to work, assuming the necessary ventilation issues are rectified, should not be terribly problematic. Assuming that her condition and the lagging executive function was improved after she left the building then if her environment is improved then her return is possible. References McGrath, M. C. (2013). Wisconsin card sorting test. Retrieved from http://www.springerreference.com/docs/html/chapterdbid/180718.html What is executive function?. (2012, April 12). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/executive-function Question 3 Pavlov is known, even by many with no background and associations with psychology, as the doctor who made the dogs salivate at the sound of a bell, by associated the bell with food. This conditioned them to respond automatically to the bell even when the edibles are not present. Pavlovian conditioning has had some success in aiding with individuals with phobias to “recondition” their behavior. Phobias are not jokes for the people experiencing them. A phobia can be most simply defined as a fear that has become extreme and unrealistic, leading to a complete aversion to that particular thing or activity. Now, everyone is afraid of something, but a phobia can go well beyond the level of fear perceived versus a rather limited threat. Let us use the fear of dogs as a treatable example to apply Pavlovian theory. In a Pavlovian approach it is a matter of desensitizing the individual to whatever their particular fear may be. This usually starts with relaxing techniques forcing the person to imagine the scenarios involving whatever fear that makes you the most afraid. So in this case, they may have to list things like, the sound of a dog barking or the sight of the dog. Then, they are systematically taught how to relax, even when thinking about those listed scenarios.(Piotrowski, 2009) Just as Pavlov introduced the bell as new stimulus, this therapist has introduced relaxation, which is, in fact, creating a new response to the previously negative stimuli. As the individual becomes more confident and comfortable another stage will begin. The approach called “flooding” forces the individual to be exposed to the very thing they fear directly. At first this can exaggerate the phobia, but eventually the individual becomes less and less sensitive to the source of their fear. However, this last approach should only be attempted by professionals. References Piotrowski, N. A. (2009). Psychology basics pavlovian conditioning: a review. Retrieved from http://salempress.com/store/samples/psychology_basics/psychology_basics_pavlovian.htm Question 3 We are nothing without our ability to learn and then learn more as the need presents itself. Without the ability to learn we would accomplish little if anything. However, it is also true that not, necessarily, everything we learn is positive. As sure as “positive learning” or learning that leads to self betterment and fully functioning within reality, “negative” learning must lead to self diminishment and lack of functioning within their reality. This behavior is called maladaptive. We are all the result of our life experiences and those experiences differ for every individual. Much of what we perceive as being a certain way or that something is absolutely true is a matter of interpretation. We are subject of conditioning within our reality the parameters of which are often developed in childhood. Many experts are firm believers if behaviors can be learned then they can be successfully unlearned. A good example of this is those individuals who suffer from eating disorders. Early in their life they developed a relationship with food, which either created an aversion to food or a need to rely on food as a comfort. Either way, the result is someone whose conditioned relationship with food is actively affecting their ability to be healthy, functional, and lead a satisfying life. Desensitization and “flooding” are two treatments that are used to approach individuals with maladaptive learned behaviors. Aversion therapy is, also, used. This approach uses negative conditioning to create an aversion by associated the maladaptive behaviors with disagreeable, unpleasant, or painful stimuli.(McLeod, 2010) Reference McLeod, S. (2010). Behavioral therapy. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/behavioral-therapy.html Question 4 The case study provided discusses, Jose, a 10-year-old Hispanic boy who speaks English and is liked and interactive in school. However, he is simply not doing well at math. As yet, no one can explain why Jose is doing so poorly at math. If they were to administer the Boston Process Mathematics intelligence assessment, because each aspect helps determine where the problem lies, the reason why Jose does not do well in math may be discovered. By giving the mathematics test orally it allows the tester to get a baseline, general, idea what the mathematics level is as a basis of comparison. Some students are not very good at doing math in their head, while others are. The second incarnation is a word mathematic problem that requires translation into a math problem. By giving Jose this version you can determine if his issues are with oral mathematics or perhaps more than with the written. Then a page of equations is presented, no translation required; this will give the overall math aptitude. Lastly, they present the testing material with no time limit to complete it. This can help eliminate performance anxiety, which could affect their efficiency to complete tasks greatly. Many people feel that intelligence test, like the Boston Process Mathematics intelligence assessment, are automatically biased where minorities are concerned. It is true that culture and how it values education is relevant and, therefore, how their home life perceives the importance of their education. Many students of minority groups explain that once the teachers felt they would never do as well as others then they expected less of them. That does not verify the bias of IQ tests, just the bias of teachers which is a whole different problem. Also, the opposition argues that perhaps the student from minority groups that do poorly are simply not prepared for test of this nature, They may have, culturally, a different interpretation of time values, little sense of urgency when tested, and an lack of academic competitiveness.(Niolon, 2005) However, Jose, the boy in the scenario provided, although, a minority speaks fluent English, which means he is no more or less a product of the education that the rest of the students have had, regardless of race, so the test cannot be automatically biased.. References Niolon, R. (2005, August). Are iq tests biased?. Retrieved from http://www.psychpage.com/learning/library/intell/biased.html Question 5 Damage to the brain is one of the most frightening things that many people can imagine. Damage to the brain can have some serious effects that can be life altering to those who suffer the damage, but also to those around them. While there are several sorts of ijuroes to different parts of the brain that can cause problems in language communication, it is damage to the left hemispheres that can cause total and compelte loss of language skills. The condition is called “global ephasia.” It does not just affect individuals who verbally communicate but the same effects have been seen in hearing impaired individuals who have lost some of their competency to sign correctly and effeicently. When damage appears in the right hemisphere of the brain the effects are different from those of the left hemisphere. Damage to the right hemisphere, usually, results in distinct altering of the patients spatial and sensory processing. It can, also, affect visual information; in severe cases a condition can develop called “prosopagnosia,” which cause individuals to be unable to recognize the faces of people, even people that they have known their whole life, like friend and family. (Breedlove, Watson & Rosenweig, 2010) Although the right hemisphere is not responsible for language it is responsible for the gestural elements of communication, which are labeled as para-linguistic. People experiencing the after effects of right hemisphere damage lose the ability to determine context, tone, and underlying subtext of conversations of others. Although they do not lose the ability of direct conversation as sufferers of left hemisphere injuries, but they are prone to rambling, excessive, and, even, inappropriately speaking at times.("The brain and," 2010) References Breedlove. , Watson, , & Rosenweig (2010). The development and evolution of speech and language are remarkable. Retrieved from http://www.biopsychology.com/6e/outline19.html The brain and its functions. (2010). Retrieved from http://thebrainlabs.com/brain.shtml Read More