Researchers have mapped a brain circuit responsible for instantly detecting threats and forming memories of fear. “We were interested in locating a brain region associated with fear signaling and finding out how it could identify environments previously related to physical or predatory threats, such as a place where the individual underwent an aversive physical stimulus,”…
Author: D.C.Demetre
Neurons Responsible for Item Memory Discovered
University of California, Irvine researchers have identified the neurons involved in “item memory,” expanding on our knowledge of how the brain stores and recalls the specifics of “what” happened and providing a novel therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s patients. Memories include three types of details: spatial, temporal and item, the “where, when and what” of an…
Obedience to Authority May Depend on Physical Proximity
Scientists at SWPS University – formerly known as the Warsaw School of Social Psychology- recently investigated the causes of obedience in the famous Milgram study. They found that the experimenter’s physical proximity increases subjects’ compliance, whereas the learner’s physical proximity diminishes it. In the early 1960s, American social psychologist Stanley Milgram developed an experiment that…
The Freeze Response – Beyond Fight or Flight
The freeze response, also known as freezing behavior, or tonic immobility, is a survival mechanism triggered by the brain in response to perceived threat, involving a sophisticated interplay between psychological and physiological factors. It stands alongside the well-documented fight or flight responses as a fundamental mode of stress reaction, although the phenomenon, while well-researched in…
Psychological Models of Impulsivity
Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct often characterized by actions taken without forethought. It is typically regarded as a personality trait but can also be observed in various psychiatric conditions. Psychological models often emphasize the lack of behavioral inhibition as a core component of impulsivity. These models attempt to explain impulsive behavior as a failure to…
Rothbart’s Three Dimensions of Temperament
Temperament refers to the inherent traits that determine how individuals react to the environment. These traits are biologically based and observable from early childhood. Unlike personality, which can evolve over time influenced by various life experiences, temperament remains relatively stable and consistent. Temperament qualities (such as neuroticism, sociability, impulsivity, etc.) are different patterns in behavior…
Generativity vs Stagnation in Erikson’s Psychosocial Development
Erik Erikson introduced eight stages of psychosocial development, with generativity vs. stagnation being the seventh stage. This stage typically occurs during middle adulthood, around ages 40 to 65. Erikson believed that successful navigation through each stage leads to a healthy personality and positive psychosocial outcomes. The stages are marked by conflicts that must be resolved…
Sensory Adaptation (Neural Adaptation)
Sensory adaptation – also known as neural adaptation) is a process that allows the sensory system to adjust to changes in the environment. This phenomenon is crucial for perception and helps prevent the brain from becoming overwhelmed by constant stimuli. Sensory neurons play a significant role in this process. When these neurons are repeatedly exposed to…
What is Schema Therapy?
Schema therapy is a distinct and integrative therapeutic approach that was conceptualized by Dr. Jeffrey Young in the 1980s and is rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy. It integrates aspects of gestalt therapy, attachment theory, and object relations, intending to treat personality disorders and chronic mental health disorders. Schema psychotherapy aims to break the cycle of schema activation, thereby facilitating behavioral…