Biology 202 Web Paper 1

Writers, philosophers, inventors, and artists have all spoken of sudden insights and epiphanies as being creative muses responsible for their greatest works and masterpieces. Isaac Newton, after all, is said to have conceptualized his ideas on gravity when an apple fell from a tree and hit his head. Whether composing a symphony or solving a crossword puzzle, we are constantly generating novel ideas. These insights are often chalked up to bursts of creative genius, but scientists are determined to understand the biochemical mechanisms that produce these seemingly unprompted epiphanies.

 

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Sam Beebout
Web Paper 1
2/19/09

The Effect of Language on Learning to Read,
and the Implications of Language Differences on Experiencing and Storytelling

Wouldn’t it be great if eating some sugar could alleviate pain, cure a cold, or even cancer? Recent studies suggest this may be possible due to a placebo effect.

In Latin the word “placebo” means “I will please.” In the medical field a placebo is known as a pharmacologically inert substance which may produce therapeutic results because of the belief in its efficacy (1). In research, a placebo is an inactive substance or procedure, which on its own has no effect, used as a control. A placebo effect takes place when the subject given the placebo demonstrates similar results as the experimental substance or procedure (3).

Throughout modern history, there has been an abundance of interest regarding the concept of the psychopath and sociopath. Many portrayals of sociopaths seem to be overly romanticized, and fictional characters such as Hannibal Lector or Dexter Morgan (Silence of the Lambs and Dexter respectively) are sources of fascination for an uneducated public. It is difficult when watching such characterizations to discern what is true and what is fantastical about their portrayal, and that is why I began researching psychopaths and sociopaths. While the information I found was educational, it is clear that there is some confusion as to how exactly one can define these mental disorders, even among the scientific community.

What is Déj

Autism affects one in 166 children born in the United States and has doubled in prevalence over the past decade. This disorder has tragic repercussions for the children diagnosed with it and remains a mystery without a known cure. My autistic cousin Katie lives daily with the weight of this disorder and I intend to explore in this paper the repercussions it holds for many facets of her life.

What Part of the Brain is Responsible for Moral Reasoning?