Physiological Psychology Course Blog

Many children (and adults) are scared of needles. During childhood, vaccines and immunizations are administered to keep children from contracting diseases that can be fatal. A VR experience has been created specifically to divert children's attention away from the needle and fear associated with it. The child receiving a vaccine wears a VR headset and the nurse administering it follows along on a second screen. The cold sensation of the disinfecting wipe is associated with a piece of ice in the VR and the needle is associated with a "fire fruit." These visuals alter the children's perception of the stimulus and make them more calm. This allows medical professionals to administer shots more quickly and effectively and make the experience better for the children.  Critique: I wonder how this could be used when children need to receive multiple shots. If they watch the same video over and over they will get bored and possibly end up loosing focus which could lead to th...

https://neurosciencenews.com/sleep-teen-behavior-9938/ Summary: Adolescents require 8-10 hours of sleep a night. Studies have shown that when individuals do not get enough sleep their health and behavior can suffer. It is shown that lack of sleep can cause learning difficulties, impaired decision making and other health issues. In a new study researchers found a correlation between hours of sleep and risk-taking behaviors in high school students. Accidents associated with lack of sleep are one of the leading causes of death among adolescents. Sleep is crucial for optimal health and can have effects on every part of your body and behavior in ways you are not consciously aware of. Students who reportedly slept less than 6 hours were more prone to use drugs and alcohol and more likely to attempt suicide. Review: Sleep deprivation has many long lasting effects on health. A brain structure called the ventricles play an important role when we are sleeping. The ventricles act as a was...