from the iPhone4: here I am briefing and checking students in on the iClicker!
Here is what I am reading today:
“Autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger syndrome, have generally been associated with uneven intellectual profiles and impairment, but according to a new study of Asperger individuals published in the online journal PLoS ONE, this may not be the case — as long as intelligence is evaluated by the right test.”
“Live rock returned to Afghanistan after three long decades on Saturday as young men and women cheered and leapt into the air to the sound of heavy bass beats and punk rock. Bands from Australia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan served up a six-hour musical feast of blues, indie, electronica and death metal to hundreds of fans, many of whom had never seen live music before.”
“A new University of Colorado Boulder study shows that a small amount of physical exercise could profoundly protect the elderly from long-term memory loss that can happen suddenly following infection, illnesses or injury in old age.”
“”Whether you think you can or think you can’t — you’re right,” said Henry Ford. A new study, to be published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that people who think they can learn from their mistakes have a different brain reaction to mistakes than people who think intelligence is fixed.”
19 Comments
carlyk · October 2, 2011 at 7:20 pm
I thought the article which discussed intellectual abilities of individuals diagnosed with Autism or Aspergers was very interesting and encouraging. Those who display autistic behaviors are often looked upon in a negative manner, but this article helped to clarify the true abilities of these unique individuals, rather than addressing them as having disabilities. I recently read a novel by Jodi Picoult titled “House Rules” and it was about a family that had a child with Aspergers syndrome. It was a very eye-opening book and allowed me to develop a new appreciation for the world of autism. I think it is very important that we take the time to understand the needs of these individuals and adjust education appropriately to fit their needs, just as we do with non-Autistic children and just as the article mentioned.
carlyk · October 2, 2011 at 7:31 pm
The article linking exercise and memory loss was a great read. I’ve always been a huge proponent for the importance and beneficence of getting regular exercise and to hear that this may continue to be a positive factor in yet another area of health is very promising. I do have several questions regarding the article, though. What is the definition of “small amount of exercise” and at what approximate age does the term “elderly” refer to? Also, I think it would be interesting to learn if there is a link between memory loss in individuals who have been consistently physically active throughout the course of their live versus those who have not been. Overall, though, I hope this area of research continues to develop and make progress!
lexi williams · October 2, 2011 at 9:34 pm
The University of Colorado study regarding exercise and memory intrigued me. I agree that there must be a correlation between the two because of the many health benefits of exercise, but my attention was drawn to the article because I am from Boulder, Colorado where the study took place. However, there were several parts of the article that were vague/questionable. It seemed slightly ambiguous when the article talked about memory loss that was “infection-induced”. Later in the article, they stated that rats infected with E.Coli experienced detrimental effects to their hippocampuses, but I was confused as to whether the research was done with just E.Coli because it seemed like the kept talking about bacterial infections in general. Also, the article stated, “In the current study we found that small amounts of voluntary exercise prevented the priming of microglia…”. I question whether the control group of rats had no means for exercise and how one would gauge voluntary exercise with rats. Although I am aware that it was merely an abstract, I think that a more detailed explanation of the experimental design is necessary. Nevertheless, I find it fascinating that research in this field in being conducted. I have a 90–year-old grandmother who is slowly losing her memory, but I believe her healthy lifestyle and regular exercise regime has helped to slow the process, and its interesting to read research that may support this theory.
mfitzpatrick · October 3, 2011 at 9:13 pm
I was extremely excited after reading about the relationship between exercise and memory. My largest fear involved with aging would be losing my memories of my past, my loved ones, and my life. I work out on a regular basis so, the evidence of these effects on memory has definitely put me more at ease. However, although this study has been proven on rats, I would have preferred to read about this study tested on human beings. Also, I agree with reader #2; their comment left me wondering whether amount of exercise was a variable in the outcome. I pondered another inquiry as to whether it is specifically hippocampal damage, that is so detrimental, could affect physical activity in return; in simpler terms meaning could damage to the hippocampus in turn cause a decrease or, in unusual circumstances, even cause an increase in physical activity?
annieaitken · October 4, 2011 at 3:00 pm
I find the first article to be very informative and important for understanding the autism spectrum. Personally I find autism to be an often misunderstood disorder. I worked with kids the past few summers who had autism and aspergers and I saw in them a lot of potential in them. It was difficult because even the therapists I worked with had difficulty connecting with them and in turn, it was hard to see their skills. In the right environment though, the intelligence of the kids would come through; like the article says although these skills may not be typical to the rest of society they should not be disregarded. I think the article did a great job conveying the message that there is a problem with society’s standardized ideal for intelligence. There are many different aspects which should be taken into account when measuring a person’s abilities. I think it would be ignorant of us to believe that just because people with autism may process information differently, therefore makes them less intelligent then ourselves.
Jerusha · October 4, 2011 at 4:32 pm
I thought the mindset article was really interesting. I guess The Little Engine That Could was right in saying “I think I can, I think I can!” I’ve noticed in my own study habits that I tend to pick and choose what I feel is fixed knowledge or not. When it comes to math and I can’t get a concept down I just tell myself that I’m just not a math smart person. However, any other subject I’ll just keep studying it until I get it down. I wonder then if my mindset is just in the middle or if I have the I can fix it attitude but purposely decide to shut it off for calculus. Either way, I feel this research really can help people realize that you can learn from your mistakes. Hopefully that will inspire others to keep trying at subjects they find difficult. (In my case that would be math!)
apwillia · October 4, 2011 at 4:44 pm
The article on rock returning to Afghanistan after the music had been banned by the Taliban for many years was an interesting look at the shifting ideologies in the Middle East. The fact that the music festival tied together religious followers, with the observance of prayer during the festival, and music lovers is a testament to the devout religious observance and growing youth movement in that region. In the US, the rock and roll movement had a profound impact on culture and society in the 1980s, and we will have to wait and see whether Afghanistan moves in the direction of cultural change now that the Taliban is gone. There is some promise in the hope of cultural change and of more acceptance with the attitudes of elder Afghans not appearing to be completely disapproving of the music played at the festival. The allowance of this festival could mean a move towards further acceptance of Western ideologies; however, it is too premature to say for certain.
maiacapello · October 4, 2011 at 7:17 pm
The article regarding exercise as a stimulation of the brain interests me very much. I find that exercise in general does well to the mind of an individual instantly. Once I have run or done some sort of work out, I feel much less stressed or vulnerable to tension. I do this activity because it makes me feel better, and this article states that voluntarily exercising reduces aging induced impairments. Infections of E Coli in the brain directly affect the hippocampus, which includes the memory and learning part of the brain. Exercise, in this article, is linked to aiding the prevention of the inflammation of the brain along with prevention of priming of microglia (which are the immune cells of the brain). The research of exercise affecting the brain in a positive manner makes me link the positive sensations that I have felt after exercise (not just immediately but also in the long run). This article is interesting because it ends with the question of how stress hormones in the brain may be slowed down due to increase of exercise. I look forward to learning more about how an every day activity can positively affect one in the long run.
maiacapello · October 4, 2011 at 7:18 pm
I found the article regarding the asperger spectrum very interesting and rewarding. I feel that the autistic disorders are viewed as a negative when the individuals have much strength within their restrictions. The high scores correlated to perceptual information as opposed to verbal. High scores were reached on the Raven’s Progressive Matrices, which focuses on reasoning, problem solving abilities, and higher levels of abstraction. The reason why this sort of research is rewarding and very important is because once scientists can begin to understand the manner in which these individuals can interpret information the best, the more smoothly learning and teaching processes may be developed and specialized for them. Their strong abilities that may be looked at as dysfunctional can be overlooked and switched to gifted and genuine.
mfitzpatrick · October 5, 2011 at 12:45 pm
I was very intrigued about the “What is Your Mindset?” experiment. I agree that whatever someone thinks they can do, they can do; and whatever someone thinks they can not do, they can’t. I have observed this kind of activity and behavior is many different circumstances.
For example, weight loss. I have two cousins, both of whom are overweight. Over the summer, they both came to the conclusion that they were sick of being obese and unhappy. They had just graduated from high school and wanted to go into college looking like a completely new person. So, they both began with a good mentality. They ate well and began to start light exercise. The first two weeks, they both dropped mounds of weight. This encouraged them to continue towards their goal. After a few more weeks, they both began to notice little change and were becoming more and more discouraged overtime. One of the cousins however, did not give up. He continued to exercise and eat healthy to his best ability. The other cousin, unfortunately, became so discouraged that he had not lost more weight and began to exercise less and fall back into his original eating habits.
This is a perfect example of the difference between someone who thinks they can versus someone who has the give-up mentality and decides they can’t.
I would be extremely interested to know more about how much someone’s mentality can affect the brain and the way it functions.
jennapetersen · October 5, 2011 at 3:02 pm
I found the article about exercise and memory loss extremely interesting. My father always tells my elderly grandfather that he should take one walk a day. He says “Even if you aren’t feeling like going outside, you need to get out and at least walk the neighborhood.” It is great to know that researchers found that even minimal amounts of exercise can reduce memory loss in the elderly. My parents have continually stressed the importance of regular exercise. I too have come to realize how much better a day can be when it starts with a morning workout, or how much better I sleep at night after a run. This article makes me wonder if exercise has memory benefits to non-elderly people. Could the memory of college students that regularly work out be better than those who never do? I believe this could be a very interesting question to study and I am curious of the answer.
jennapetersen · October 5, 2011 at 3:26 pm
The article about how our brains respond to our mistakes was greatly intriguing. I have come across both people who think intelligence is fixed and people who think intelligence is malleable in my college life. I am an intelligence is malleable believer, but one of my best friends in my major thinks intelligence is fixed. We took biochemistry together last Fall, and both received disappointing grades on our first midterm. I came to the conclusion that I had not studied the right material and had not started studying soon enough. My friend concluded that biochemistry just wasn’t her subject and that even if she studied harder, she wouldn’t do better. I studied much differently for the next midterm and received a high B, but my friend didn’t study any different and received another disappointing grade. I think this is a great example of what this article discussed. I believe that thinking intelligence is malleable comes hand in hand with keeping a positive attitude. We should all not be disappointed after we make mistakes because everyone makes mistakes. We should learn from the bumps in the road that come our way.
akinsella · October 5, 2011 at 4:01 pm
I really enjoyed reading the article which discussed the possible connection between memory and exercise. It’s about time that a study such as this would come out! This article is very applicable to my life because I have always been very active – my dad is a tennis pro and my mom works in the tennis shop. Simply put, exercise wasn’t really an option in my family, it was mandatory! I truly believe though that exercise will give us lasting positive effects on our lives that we still have yet to discover. I am wondering where this study will go from here. It mentions how very little exercise is needed for the rats but I wonder what that will equate to in humans. How much exercise a day and for how long over a time span will it be necessary to make a significant effect? I am interested to see this study progress and can’t wait to hear the findings!
akinsella · October 5, 2011 at 4:31 pm
I REALLY enjoyed reading the article about making mistakes and you’re brain activity that occurs right after. I thought that this was a VERY interesting study. It was cool to see a saying backed up by science. “Whether you think you can or think you can’t – you’re usually right.” I found this article really interesting also because I spend a lot of time working with children – teaching and tutoring them – and it is very interesting seeing the success rate of children and how it is correlated with their reaction after they make a mistake.
akinsella · October 5, 2011 at 4:31 pm
I REALLY enjoyed reading the article about making mistakes and you’re brain activity that occurs right after. I thought that this was a VERY interesting study. It was cool to see a saying backed up by science. “Whether you think you can or think you can’t – you’re usually right.” I found this article really interesting also because I spend a lot of time working with children – teaching and tutoring them – and it is very interesting seeing the success rate of children and how it is correlated with their reaction after they make a mistake.
CCrosson · October 11, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Reading the article about how our brain reacts to our mindset was not only extremely informative, but also very interesting. In this case science has been able to show that “Whether you think you can or think you can’t – you’re usually right” is in fact, a true statement. It just goes to show how much our attitude can affect the brain our brain reacts from situation to situation. This study was interesting because it tied science and a familiar saying together, and showed us that when we do think we can fix a mistake, we really can. It has made me think twice about how I will react from now on when I get tests back.
knellese · October 11, 2011 at 10:22 pm
The article regarding one’s mindset was very appealing to me. I have always believed, from an existential point of view, that we are responsible for ourselves and our actions. I think this ties into the idea that if we believe we can do something, we will do it; however, if we are doubtful and submissive we may not have what it takes to meet our goal. I thought it was interesting the way the article broke it down scientifically, the reaction that occurs in the brain after you have made a mistake and how people interpret this differently based on whether they believed they could learn something from the mistake or not. I know that when people decide to run a marathon, they must not only physically prepare themselves, but mentally as well. When you are running for that long you constantly have to be pushing yourself and believing that you can go further. The same goes for intelligence. We may differ from one another from a set point, especially given life experiences and opportunities we’ve had, but that does not mean that we are incapable of expanding our minds. When you learn from your mistakes and push yourself toward your goal, you can accomplish anything, whether it be finishing a marathon or getting an A on a test.
Susan Carnohan · October 14, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Comment on “What Is Your Mindset?” In a prior Child Development class, we studied Japanese early education. During the class we compared and contrasted our educational system with Japan. One of the major factors I was impressed with was the difference in mindsets. When listening to a short video-clip of Carol Dweck explaining her theory, as outlined in her book, Mindset (2006), she explained two different mindsets. One she called the fixed mindset and the other she called the growth mindset. What was interesting was that the Asian culture believes that intelligence can be increased through hard work, which Ms. Dweck would label a growth mindset. The European American culture, however, has believed that intelligence is fixed. The fixed mindset has been propagated throughout the public school systems. In fact, I personally have experienced this, going through the public schools during the late 50’s and throughout the 60’s. However, I have no idea how I was able to overcome this. In my late teens, I was angered at the prospect of being limited intellectually. Therefore I began a process of fighting the boundaries of my mind–pushing out as much as possible. When I was introduced to Ms. Dweck, I was excited to find someone who would validate my personal theory–that with hard work I could expand my mind and increase my intellectual abilities. I love how scientists are catching onto this. Perhaps, the American school system will also?
kai zajac · October 21, 2011 at 7:29 am
I really liked the article about exercise and memory. My dad over the last year has become an avid ping pong player as odd as it sounds. Him and all his older buddies will stay up till three in the morning playing ping pong twice a week. My mom has never been fond of his new found hobby, but my Dad apparently did some research and ping pong seems to be one of the best exercises for preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s. This is because the brain must work very quick, because ping pong is a VERY fast game. I would be interested if there are various activities that might be more beneficial for different areas of brain health as well? A study examining issues such as the best exercises for memory, or for prevention of certain diseases would be very intriguing. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this article and was thrilled to learn that exercising isn’t only good for your physical health, but your mental health as well!
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