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The Brain, Our Memory & The Impact of Different Drugs Level 1-3 Cognitive Learning Theory The cognitive learning theory1 explains how internal factors influence the learning process of an individual. It can be explained with a loop2, which consists out of three steps; comprehension, memory and application. The cognitive learning theory has been created for people to be able to understand how different thought processes either enhance or hamper the learning process. This information can be used to guide the learner into a way of thinking that benefits them most in learning and can help them gain better results in the learning process. The cognitive learning theory was invented in the beginning of 1960s, when a Swiss teacher and a researcher Jean Piaget3 started to focus on cognitive factors (internal), rather than external factors. The theory highly suggests that learning is processing information, which has then later helped to understand the different ways people can process information 4. In a way, cognitive learning theory enhances the “thinking of thinking”. The one learning bases the new information to information and knowledge they had before, so they make it part of their collection of information. Behaviorism Learning Theory The behaviorism learning theory5 suggests that the behaviors are learned through interaction with the environment, so they are not inherited from the parents. This means that the learner is affected by the environment he or she is studying in. For example, if the student gets reward from good results, he or she is more likely to put in effort, but if they never get reward, they are more likely to give up and start neglecting the responsibilities. There is a stimulus from the environment that results in some type of action, in this case, either learning or neglecting the learning process. The behaviorism learning theory was developed by J. B. Watson and B. F. Skinner, but it was first denied by other psychologists, since it was widely believed that the learning process wasn’t dependent on the environment. Their theory on behaviorism was used as the base of the experiment by Pavlov. The experiment was called Pavlov’s Dogs, in which the sound of a bell was used to tell the dogs they were getting food. This proved the theory of a certain environmental stimulus affecting one’s experience and therefore learning. Constructivism Learning Theory The constructivism learning theory6 states that a learner constructs knowledge rather than takes in tons of information. The learner builds their own understanding of the world7 based on his/her personal experience and previous knowledge. The processes of assimilation and accommodation are the bases of constructivism. Assimilation means that the learner recognizes a similarity between new information and something they already know, referred to as schema. Accommodation on the other hand means evolving/ reconstructing the already existing schema8 with the new information. For example, one sees a shape of an apple and recognizes it as one not taking into account the color (assimilation). Then one realizes they have only seen red apples before, but the apple on the table is green. One is sure that the object is an apple, but differing from their previous perception of an apple, so they arrive at a conclusion of apples being both red and green (accommodation). The constructivism learning theory was developed by Jean Piaget9, but there are two other main psychologists too. Those two are called Lev Vygotsky and John Dewey. Even though all three researched and focused on slightly different things, they all shared a belief of the previous learning theories (cognitivism and behaviorism) not completely explaining the process of learning. Humanism Learning Theory The humanism learning theory10 focuses on the individual and their acknowledgement of their abilities. These abilities/ capabilities can include creativity, personal choice and growth11. People are left with a lot of choices, which is believed to lead into better and more efficient learning. Partially, the freedom of choice related to humanism learning theory comes from the general Humanist view of people being good and aiming to make the right decisions. This is also what the most famous Humanist, Abraham Maslow, thought. He stated that people have certain needs (needs can be seen in the triangle above), and as those needs are fulfilled, one can reach self-actualization. In learning this all means that a student should be able to make their own choices of where, when and how they want to study. They should set their own goals and evaluate how well they’ve achieved those goals. This is also related to a positive atmosphere around learning, and good interaction amongst students. Connectivism Learning Theory The connectivism learning theory12 suggests that learning happens through the combining of different implements. These can include knowledge, thoughts, theories and general information. It is one of the newest learning theories, which is why it also takes into account the digitalization that plays a huge role in the accessibility of knowledge. The connectivism learning theory was developed in 2005 by two psychologists called George Siemens and Stephen Downes. Even though they both talk about the significance of technology in learning, they focus on completely different things. Siemens focuses on the social side, and Downes is more focused on the mechanical learning. However, it is commonly agreed that amongst the connectivists, that learning is much more than an internal process. That’s why the theory also introduces a term Nodes and Links, which refers to the multiple connections made from one place. In practice, this means that the learner has multiple choices in how to develop their learning. Learning itself is more important the knowing, which is just a result of good, successful learning. Learning as a process is just combining different concepts. With this process of combining, technology is seen as a huge aid, since it enables one to access information at a fast speed. Level 4-5 Atkinson-Shiffirin, Multi-store Memory Model According to the Multi-Store Model of Memory1 proposed by Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffirin in 1968, there are three stages in the memory, but the main ones are the short-term memory and the long-term memory. They are able to process information for a different duration (how long information can be stored before it’s lost) and with a different capacity (how much information can be stored at once). There are also different ways information can be encoded to the specific memory slot. It is also important to mention, that the multi-store model relies on a linear transformation of information. Short-term memory is a memory slot with limited duration. Without rehearsal the information can last in it up to 30 seconds, but it is most likely lost before that within 20 seconds of time. It also has a limited capacity to store things. A believed maximum is seven (relies on Miller’s theory of Magic number 7). In order to keep information in the short-term memory, some type of rehearsal is to be done. Depending on the objective, there are two types of rehearsal; maintenance rehearsal and continual rehearsal. Maintenance rehearsal has the aim of one remembering a certain thing for a short amount of time, when continual rehearsal aims for the information to be transferred into the long-term memory. The long-term memory is capable of storing any amount of information for as long as needed. From the long-term memory, information is actively placed back into the shortterm memory, as that is what one uses making decisions and living life. The long-term memory just provides one with the necessary information. Miller 1956, Magic Number 7 According to Miller’s theory of the Magic Number 72, there are a certain number of slots in the short-term memory of an individual. Due to these slots, a grown adult could only store seven (+/-2) pieces of information in their short-term memory. The problem with this theory is that Miller didn’t specify how much information each slot could store. Though as his theory was published in 1956, it has been supported by many other psychologists. It has been found that an average adult truly can store 5-9 pieces of information at once in their short-term memory. Miller’s study didn’t include statements on the long-term memory, as it was already commonly believed at the time that the long-term memory has an unlimited storage capacity for information, for unlimited time. Tulving, 1972- Episodic, Semantic &Procedural Tulving, in 1972, introduced a theory of the function of longterm memory. He suggested that it consists out of three parts: episodic, semantic and procedural3. The procedural memory is knowing how to do things. It is not related with conscious thought or large acknowledgement. An example could be knowing how to do a cartwheel or how to ride a bike. All the memories in that category are related to motor skills. The semantic memory is responsible for storing information of the surroundings and the world itself. It also includes the meaning of words, so it has a huge impact on the social interaction of one. Using the semantic memory involves conscious thought and is declarative. As an example, remembering what 2+2 is and what is the capital of India. Lastly, the episodic memory, stores memories of events (according to the name, episodes). It involves conscious thought and it is declarative. Together they form a full long-term memory, that is able to process all different aspects of life. As an example, what happened during your 10th birthday and how you played videogames with your brother4. Baddeley & Hitch, 1974 In 1974, Baddeley & Hitch suggested that the multi-story model of Atkinson and Shiffrin had a way too narrow view on the short-term memory of an individual. Their theory is known as the working memory model5. They suggested that the information doesn’t go into one place, rather it goes to a location dependent on the information type. For different types of information, there are different locations that are: central executive, visuospatial sketchpad, episodic buffer and phonological loop. The central executive is the leader of the entire short-term memory. It takes in all the information, and then forwards it to the subunits of short-term memory. It also deals with cognitive tasks. An example is problem-solving. Visuospatial sketchpad processes information of visual and spatial forms. It is able to both store and process information, whereas the central executive part only processes. It is located in the inner eye and is used for navigation. It is also connected to the long-term memory. The episodic buffer mainly stores information from the other components. It is also responsible for the sense of time6. Without the episodic buffer, the information wouldn’t be in chronological order and one wouldn’t have a complete understanding of when each event occurred. The phonological loop deals with spoken and written information, hence why it is usually divided into two further subcategories: phonological store and articulatory control process. Mainly both of them process information, but they can also store it. The phonological store takes in heard information and it is believed to be located in the inner ear. It is the key part in understanding what one has been told. Th articulator control process instead, takes place in the as called inner voice. It is responsible for one’s own speech, but also the understanding of the speech of other through the phonological store. Level 6 For the following task, a website, VeryWellMind has listed 11 factors that can enhance one’s memory. Some of these 11 strategies will be looked into the table below and explained what affect they have on the brain. Name of the Enhancing Method Focusing Attention What Is to Be Done? Effect on Brain Information should be rehearsed without outer distraction in order to move it from the short-term memory to the long-term one. Possible distractions are music, television, any noise and anything rapidly moving. Focusing on one thing at the time is more energy efficient for the brain. Using brain for anything requires energy, ATP, and if that energy isn’t used efficiently, a lot more of it is needed2. Avoiding Cramming Studying in multiple shorter sessions, rather than one long session in order to catch up. The brain is a functional unit that also needs rest, like muscles, for example. Cramming exhausts the brain and pushes it over its usual limits. This causes the brain to release sensations of anxiety, sleepiness, fatigue Personal Experience (not in all) I tested how long it took me to do my math exercises if I was doing it in the living room with my family in there, or in my room alone without any distraction. While I was distracted by my family, it took me around an hour longer than without distraction to complete my homework. On top of that, I forgot most of the thing I read. Visualizing concepts Reading Out Loud etc. With shorter periods of study, this can be avoided. The knowledge can also be processed faster, as the processes in brain do not get blocked by the brain when it is trying to enter rest mode3. Paying attention to The process of the visuals on the visualization material that is to be strengthens the studied, or creating brain. The cognitive own graphical areas of the brain representations of are affected, so the material. functions as motor control, attention, perception, planning and memory. Visualization also prepares the brain for action, since visual concepts are the closest to the actual process, without actually going through that process4. Reading the material Reading out loud to be studied out creates a dual loud. action. As the information is both produced vocally and heard, it enters the brain from multiple stimuli. This means that it is also stored in the memory in multiple locations, so one is less likely to forget the information, since it exists in multiple forms5. I used this particular method to study for my biology test. In the exam, I remembered what I had read for myself, so I would say this method does work. I focused on repeating the hard vocabulary out loud, which helped me to remember them in the exam. Varying Study Routine Using different methods of studying or using the ones you use in different order. Getting Sleep Sleeping sufficiently during the night, and taking naps if needed. Using different study methods causes the same as reading out loud. The information enters the brain from multiple places, meaning that the learner is less likely to forget the information, because it exists as multiple different memory traces6. Sleep affect memory and learning in two ways through the brain. Firstly, sleeping increases focus, which then results in more optimal learning. Sleep also pays a huge role in the consolidation of memory, which is required in learning new information. It is the process through which information is transferred to the long-term memory7. I made a comparison between the things I remembered from my Spanish vocabulary after sleeping seven hours and after sleeping nine hours. After sleeping nine hours, I was able to complete all of the vocabulary. After seven hours of sleep, I was only able to complete the vocabulary that I had known for a long time. Level 7 Psychoactive drugs are chemical compounds (either natural or synthetic) that have an effect on the central nervous system1. The drugs alter the normal function of the CNS, which depending on the type of psychoactive drug, results in distinct sensations. There are a few ways psychoactive drugs can be cathegorized2: the way the drugs affect the body (depressants, e.g., alcohol, hallucinogens, e.g., cannabis and stimulants, e.g., cocaine) or how or where they’re commonly used (analgesics, e.g., aspirin, inhalants, e.g., glues, opioids, e.g., heroin, party drugs, e.g., MDMA, performance and image enhancing drugs, e.g., anabolic steroids and perception drugs). In relation to them, certain terms are used, which also indicate their function: - - - - Agonists: Agonists are drugs that increase the activity of some neurotransmitter. They can either speed up the synthetization process of neurotransmitters or mimic the action of the neurotransmitter by binding to the receptors on the synapse and causing the same function. Heroin is an example of a full agonist 4. Antagonists: Antagonists are drugs that decrease the activity of a particular neurotransmitter. They can either slow down the synthetization process of the neurotransmitter or block the receptors, so the neurotransmitter isn’t able to function3. Methadone is an example of an antagonist. Inhibitors: Inhibitors are drugs that block the usage of some enzyme or other substances that inhibit the substances that could destroy the dangerous substances in the nervous system. Inhibition can be of different types dependent on how long it lasts and where the inhibition takes place on the enzyme molecule. An inhibitor can also reduce the activity of any other substance5. Releasor: Releasors are drugs that enhance the release of another substance, usually a neurotransmitter or an enzyme6. Level 8-9 Drug Laws and Drug Abuse in Malaysia and Uruguay When it comes to drug laws, Malaysia1 and Uruguay2 are polar opposites. Malaysia has one of the strictest drug policies in the entire world, where facing life in prison or the death penalty are common for the substance abuse3. Uruguay on the other hand, is one of the countries, where drugs have never been criminalized, though this only applies to drugs that are for personal use4. This still doesn’t mean misconduct of drugs didn’t occur in Uruguay. Drug abuse on the other hand is more common in Uruguay, and the country struggles with a huge number of addicts, when in Malaysia, the number is a lot smaller due the fear of strong punishments. Both Malaysia and Uruguay are located in areas, where certain plants, with intoxicating effects, grow naturally. A good example of a plant like this is an opium poppy, that is used to produce opium and from that heroin. Another example, even more abundant than the opium poppy, is a coca plant, that is used to make cocaine. This increases drug usage in both of the countries, though in a much larger scale in Uruguay, where such actions aren’t criminalized. In Malaysia, even the possession of a criminalized substance (starting from 15g of substance) can lead to prison time. Anything above 200g of drug in possession in Malaysia is considered drug trafficking, which most of the time leads to a death penalty 5. The distinguishment between drug trafficking and possession of drugs for personal usage is what Uruguay is struggling with. As personal usage isn’t criminalized, the trafficking of small amounts is easy. That’s one of the reasons why Uruguay is one of the leading sources of drugs in other countries6. In recent years, Uruguay has started to put more emphasis on the trafficking of intoxicating substances, as it was relatively uncontrolled similarly to personal usage of substances. Penalties for drug trafficking are now higher than ever, and one is likely to face prison time for drug trafficking. However, this brings up another problem. The ones arrested for drug trafficking in Uruguay (or in Malaysia) aren’t the heads of the drug trafficking organizations. They are poor people, who do anything to make a living (both Uruguay and Malaysia have a huge gap between higher and lower classes, and many people live in extreme poverty). These carriers pay no significant role to the whole business of drug trafficking, since they’ve never been in contact with anyone who could give in the drug lord. So, drug laws in both countries mainly punish people that are actually not in control of any type of drug trafficking. These people are mainly men of various ages, but they also include some women, though in much smaller numbers. Due to the social status of those people, it is to be noted that this particular way of drug trafficking also places the poor into a worse situation. They are forced to choose between the illegal money and in some cases death of their loved ones or themselves (yet, in Malaysia, a drug trafficker will face the death penalty, so risks are high there either way). The accessibility of drugs can be related to the number of drug abusers in each country. In Malaysia, the numbers are relatively small. Around 20 000 for a total of 30 million people living in Malaysia. It is worth a mention, that these people are the ones that have been caught for possession of drugs and been then declared as addicts. It is likely that more addicts exist, but they can’t be put into statistics, since they are criminals in the eyes of law. But the ones mentioned in the statistics are mainly men3. In Uruguay, usage of drugs is generally more common, and a majority of the population has tried at least some drugs, the most common one being cocaine. 4% (total population is 3.5million) of Uruguay’s entire population is constantly using the drug, meaning that they can be considered addicts. The number of cocaine seizures is at an all-time high, meaning that there is a negative side to the consumption of the particular drug. As Malaysia has a much lower reported number of drug abusers than Uruguay, it can be stated that there is a correlation between the drug laws and the number of drug abusers. Both of the countries are of similar climates in the sense of growth of intoxicating plants, meaning that the accessibility of drugs is similar in the natural sense. But as the laws of Malaysia prohibit one of any possession or usage, the number of users is significantly lower compared to Uruguay, where one is allowed the personal usage of any drug. No law is able to completely abolish the target completely, but as seen in the case of Malaysia and Uruguay, it can significantly lower the rate of it. The lower rate of drug abuse in Malaysia has also saved lives of people, since for example, seizures in relation to drugs are less abundant. Level 10 Fentanyl, Its Effect on the Human Body and Addiction Fentanyl is a strong opioid, related to morphine. It is used to treat severe pain (i.e., chronic pain, or after surgery), but it is also used illegally by many. Fentanyl can be consumed in many forms, also depending whether it is legally obtained or not. The illegal fentanyl comes in a variety of different forms and can even be mixed into other drugs like heroin1. The effects of fentanyl are extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, breathing problems and unconsciousness. Fentanyl overdose is extremely dangerous and can lead into loss of life. Effect on The Brain The brain has different opioid centers, which are responsible for the production of dopamine. As fentanyl (or any other opioid) binds to them, they increase dopamine production2. This tricks the central nervous system, and gives the user the feeling of wellbeing and happiness3. This is the result of fentanyl activating the mu and kappa opioid receptors, that are responsible for a variety of positive feelings. Fentanyl also blocks the delta opioid receptors, that are responsible for the emission of feelings such as pain and depression. The effect is comparable to the effect of the hormone endorphin, that is naturally produced in the body and is commonly referred to as the natural opioid 4. The opioid centers are also located in the pleasure center of the brain, meaning that fentanyl also gives the user a feeling of pleasure. The feelings caused by this strong drug are significantly larger than the ones produced naturally. In the long run this can lead to depression, as the brain can access a sufficient amount of dopamine for it to feel happy. These different effects on the brain can cause multiple different unwanted conditions. The brains own dopamine response isn’t enough to give the feeling of happiness, if the user is used to the higher dopamine dose produced by fentanyl. The pain tolerance of the brain can decrease, if the sensation of pain has been blocked off by fentanyl. There are also cases, where strong opioids like fentanyl have damaged the frontal lobe of the brain. The method through which this happens isn’t fully understood. Certain problems have been noticed in long term users of fentanyl in the areas of function controlled by the frontal lobe. These problems include memory loss, loss of movement, concentration problems, poor judgement, speech and language problems and poor problem-solving and planning skills. The use of fentanyl can also affect the user’s personality the way that they become more negative and aggressive, due to the constant requirement for fentanyl for the brain to function properly. Deficiencies in the functions of the other lobes have also been stated, but are less common. Effect on the Rest of The Body As fentanyl causes the feeling of relaxation, it can cause the body to over relax itself through the autonomic nervous system. This means that the heart rate can slow down and breathing can become less frequent5. This is extremely dangerous during sleep, when the body automatically further relaxes itself. All the other normal processes of the body also slowdown, which can result in constipation, loss of appetite, immune system suppression and hormonal and reproductive issues. Under constant use of fentanyl, the body becomes less able of triggering the healing process itself, which then can cause further problems, that are even more dangerous to health. Fentanyl Addiction Fentanyl messes with the equilibrium inside the body. It is a highly addictive substance due to its effects and strength. One of the strongest addictive substances are the ones related to feeling happiness, and fentanyl is one of them. A person is addicted to fentanyl when they feel the need for fentanyl in order to reach happiness. The brain disease model of addiction suggests a three-step way to addiction, which is described in the flowchart below6. These three steps described below relate to three different regions of the brain: basal ganglia (binge, intoxication), extended amygdala (withdrawal) and prefrontal cortex (anticipation). These different regions are responsible for certain types of requirements or sensations, causing them to force one into addiction. Fentanyl addiction is one of the hardest ones to get rid of, since fentanyl widely controls requirements for happy everyday life. Usually, addicts cannot break out of the addiction themselves and require treatment with withdrawal medicine. Some are able to fix the addiction with routines. Elmi Ahonen, S6 Sources: Level 1-3: 1. 2. 3. 4. https://360learning.com/guide/learning-theories/cognitive-learning-theory/ https://www.valamis.com/hub/cognitive-learning#cognitive-learning-theory https://www.learnupon.com/blog/cognitive-learning-theory/ https://oppimateriaalit.jamk.fi/oppimiskasitykset/oppimiskasitykset/kognitiivinenoppimiskasitys/ 5. https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-behavioral-learning-theory2005.html 6. https://www.buffalo.edu/catt/develop/theory/constructivism.html 7. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Behaviourism-Cognitivism-and-Constructivism-asLearning-Theories_fig1_325368819 8. https://www.educationcorner.com/schema-theory/ 9. https://edtechbooks.org/studentguide/constructivism 10. https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-humanistic-learning-theory-education2007.html 11. https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/an-introduction-to-humanistic-learning-theory1489cdde6359 12. https://www.wgu.edu/blog/connectivism-learning-theory2105.html Level 4-5 1. 2. 3. 4. https://www.simplypsychology.org/multi-store.html https://www.simplypsychology.org/short-term-memory.html https://www.simplypsychology.org/long-term-memory.html https://alithemachine.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/explanations-of-long-termmemory-tulving/ 5. https://www.simplypsychology.org/working%20memory.html 6. https://www.tutor2u.net/psychology/topics/episodic-buffer Level 6 1. https://www.verywellmind.com/great-ways-to-improve-your-memory-2795356 2. https://www.bettermind.com/articles/how-focus-works-in-your-brain/ 3. https://web.stanford.edu/~eryilmaz/cramming_is_ineffective.html 4. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/flourish/200912/seeing-is-believing-thepower-visualization 5. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320377 6. https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2020.00054 7. https://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefits-of-sleep/learningmemory Level 7 1. https://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefits-of-sleep/learningmemory 2. https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/drugs/about-drugs/types-of-drugs 3. https://humanbiology.pressbooks.tru.ca/chapter/10-8-psychoactive-drugs/ 4. https://www.ihs.gov/opioids/recovery/pharmatreatment/ 5. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhibitor 6. https://archives.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2017/03/impacts-drugsneurotransmission Level 8-9 1. https://drugabuse.com/blog/the-20-countries-with-the-harshest-drug-laws-in-theworld/ 2. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/publications/quiet-revolution-drugdecriminalisation-policies-practice-across-globe 3. https://www.statista.com/statistics/970539/drug-addicts-gender-breakdownmalaysia/ 4. https://www.tni.org/es/node/16660 5. https://www.countryreports.org/country/Malaysia/criminal-penalties.htm 6. https://www.dw.com/en/uruguay-the-new-global-drug-trafficking-hub/a-49922226 Level 10 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl https://www.intoactionrecovery.com/what-does-fentanyl-do-to-your-body/ https://pronghornpsych.com/how-do-opioids-affect-the-brain/ https://www.freedomtreatment.com/2019/10/23/endorphins-the-natural-opioid/ https://adcare.com/opioids/fentanyl/health-effects/ https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/education/bcr/addiction-research/braindisease-model-ru-316