PSYC 100 Lecture : PSYC100.docx

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: James Mac Dougall

Document Summary

We are often unaware of multiple influences on our thoughts, feelings and actions. Systematic procedures are used to understand what is being studied. Understanding how science is conducted helps determine which studies are credible. Changing beliefs about influences of nature vs. nurture on mental illness such as: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ptsd, autism spectrum disorder, & others. Descartes theory of dualism: maintained distinction between mind and body, assigned body many mental functions previously considered the mind s domain. Hundreds of substances play critical roles in mental activity and behaviours. Human genome is helping scientists understand how situational context influences how genes are expressed. Many brain regions participate to produce mental activity. Wilder penfield helped to map brain functions by stimulating different areas of the brain. Now use mris along with other types of brain scans. Brain has evolved over millions of years to solve problems related to survival and reproduction.