The Psych Files Podcast » Neurotransmitters

Episode 35: The Psychology of Extreme Sports

Michael — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:48:40 +0000

Time for a little fun. I know you’ve asked yourself this question: why do people engage in those dangerous extreme sports like hang gliding, bungee jumping and rock climbing? Would you believe it might have something to do with neurotransmitters and something called Monoamine Oxidase? In this video episode we learn about Sensation Seekers. Along the way I discuss how SSRI‘s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) function in the synapse. Come along for the ride.

Resources On Extreme Sports

Personality Psychology website at Arcadia. This site has a lot of great resources on personality. Highly recommended.

Take the sensation-seeking scale here.

Lots of resources on personality can be found at the Personality Pedagogy site.

Good article here from the HealthyPlace website on monoamine oxidase and it’s role in depression.

A nice overview of Sensation Seeking can be found in Motivation Theories and Pinciples 5th edition by Robert Beck.

Biopsychology by John Pinel has some excellent illustrations and extensive explanations on how neurotransmitters work.

Interesting in Time Magazine online called, Why We Take Risks: It’s the Dopamine.

Media Resources for this Episode

Thanks to the band 3Kisses for allowing me to use “It’s Not About You” for the soundtrack to my extreme snowmobile chase.

Extreme Bungee on YouTube.

Here’s the YouTube video showing the extreme hang gliding video featured in this episode.

The snowmobile chase machinima was made with the video game Stuntman: Ignition

Here’s a link to one of the many machinima sites.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Episode 25: The Brains Behind Erikson Part 3

Michael — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:35:47 +0000

Image via Wikipedia We finish off this series looking at your brain as you develop by examining what is happening in your brain as you age from adolescence to older adulthood. Also: an impersonated celebrity endorsement from Star Trek’s George Takai.

Resources for this podcast

The resources for this podcast are the same as those for episode 24, except for one book which others have recommended and which I am reading right now and it’s quite interesting. It’s called The Mature Mind by Gene Cohen. The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain
Discover Magazine had a wonderful special issue devoted specifically to the brain called “The Brain: An Owner’s Manual.” It appeared on June 30, 2007. Click here to go to the Discover Website. Look under the “Mind & Brain” tab for lots of other psychology related resources.

Here’s an interesting site showing a brain from different angles with all the parts labeled.

In this video from YouTube, a college student points out all the parts of the brain on a brain model.

Related Episodes

Other information on Erikson can be found in these podcasts:

Interviews with individuals in the different stages of Erikson’s model can be found in episode 21.
Part 1 of this series on Erikson’s stages can be found in episode 22.
Part 2 of this series on Erikson’s stages can be found in episode 24.

Episode 24: The Brains Behind Erikson Part 2

Michael — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:23:33 +0000

Image via Wikipedia What is happening in your brain as you progress through life? In this episode we take a look at some of the changes that occur in your brain from birth to age 12. Be sure to listen to part 3 of this series, which is episode 25.

Resources for this podcast

Discover Magazine had a wonderful special issue devoted specifically to the brain called “The Brain: An Owner’s Manual.” It appeared on June 30, 2007. Click here to go to the Discover Website. Look under the “Mind & Brain” tab for lots of other psychology related resources.

If you’d like to manipulate the brain itself virtually, check out this site.

Here is a very funny and informative video I found on youtube which “sings” you through the parts of the brain.

Related Episodes

Other information on Erikson can be found in these podcasts:

Interviews with individuals in the different stages of Erikson’s model can be found in episode 21.
Part 1 of this series on Erikson’s stages can be found in episode 22.
Part 3 of this series on Erikson’s stages can be found in episode 25.