Broca’s area, Nodes of Ranvier, Wernicke’s Area. What do these three things have in common? They are all structures of the brain that have been named after the scientist who was able to match the physiological structure with the bodily function it is responsible for. Psychologists frequently observe strange behavior in the brain, but oftentimes are not able to make much sense of it.

As an aspiring psychologist, I can only hope to one day be able to have a brain structure named after myself. Conducting research is just a part of the field of psychology, so if I can conduct my own research and be able to make some kind of novel discovery, I would feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and accomplishment.

There are still so many mysteries about the human brain, which means there is so much to explore and discover. The field is competitive; psychologists across the globe who also conduct research likely have the same goals in mind. That only motivates me more to be able to beat out the competition and claim stake to my own brain structure, Brewer’s Area.

Perhaps it will explain exactly why we yawn, or how information is coded into neuron activity, or maybe even how our brains can conceptualize and simulate the future. These things have all yet to be answered, but they remain common mysteries associated with the brain. It’s impossible to say exactly what contribution I will make to the field, but it still remains one of my top goals to have my name printed and referenced in scientifically accepted textbooks.

Those who are somewhat unfamiliar with psychoanalytic psychology generally consider Sigmund Freud to be some strange psychologist that was all-too-fixated on weird sexuality theories. There is some truth to that concept, in that he was excessively (to a point) fixated on the sexual development of children, as well as the founder of many disturbing theories about the way that people may be subconsciously attracted to people who would be considered “taboo” by society. I must admit that some of the things that this man theorized were strange and downright creepy, but it is a shame that the rest of his work is tainted because of this concept.

Freud was the pioneer of psychoanalytical psychology. This means that he was the first person to come forward with claims that posited that there were subconscious realms of thought that people could not voluntarily access. He believed that this occurred because the material in the subconscious was oftentimes too disturbing for the individual to be aware of on their own. There has been research that has since then supported the concept of the subconscious being present, and is now typically considered common knowledge, regardless of what background someone may have in psychological studies.

Much of what we now know about dream analysis, word association, and subconscious motives is derived from the theories of Freud. Without his work, the findings of this genre of psychology would likely be delayed to a point that is impossible to measure. Not to mention that Carl Jung, another one of the most famous psychologists to date, was actually a student of Freud’s. I think it’s just important to remember that although he had some strange theories about psychological development, that that is not justification to neglect the brilliant findings that he set forth for the future of the field of psychology.

If you have been paying any attention to fairly recent headlines relating to sports, specifically football, you would have noticed that there has been a drastic increase in the amount of media attention that sports related concussions have been receiving. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, is the term that refers to the the accumulated damage of brain tissues in individuals who typically have been playing professional football for a long period of time (although it can still be found in young individuals who have not played as long). Players such as Aaron Hernandez, Junior Seau, and Bill Bryant were all found to have evidence of CTE in their post-mortem evaluation.

CTE occurs when there is a repeated trauma of the brain. Football is an incredibly contact oriented sport, which involves the smashing of helmets during the plays. Symptoms of CTE include, but are not limited to, suicidality, depression, anxiety, memory loss, aggression, and anger control problems. Unfortunately, it is impossible to diagnose before death. This means that many former players had their fate secured long before they were aware.

As I write this, I have an interview scheduled to be a research assistant in a sports concussion lab here at University Park. If I get the position, I will be very happy to be involved in research to better understand this horrible condition, and maybe even work with my peers to be able to diagnose it in living patients. From what I understand, the lab works closely with members of the football team. This means that I can potentially make a contribution to my immediate community. If I can contribute to saving just one singular life before they fall victim to CTE, I will feel accomplished with my work. Not satisfied, of course, but accomplished.

Phrenology. This is the word that describes the ancient practice of diagnosing mental differences in individuals by observing the bumps and crevices on the exterior part of a person’s skull. Seems legit right? Well, no, not really.

This pseudoscience was the attempt of ancient people to describe the differences across people’s personalities and actions. We all have different skulls, so obviously this is an explanation for the way that we all act differently…

To put this in modern perspective, I think its arrogant to make (too much) fun of these people. We still don’t know too much about the field of psychology, since much of what we do know is based on inference and observation. There are many areas of psychology, such as personality psychology, that have very little biological evidence to base claims off of. The theories that we consider to be the most scientifically valid oftentimes don’t have any scientific procedures involved.

But this brings up the evolving field of neuropsychology. I believe this is the most prominent direction that this field is heading, because we are developing increasingly reliable ways to assess the inner workings of the brain, and then apply this knowledge to practical human processes. In relation to the time frame that the field of psychology has existed, technologies such as MRI, fMRI, CAT, and EEG are relatively new. These all allow us to have insight about what is going on inside the brain, rather than the outward expressions that are reflected by these previously unseen processes.

It’s just amazing to me the advancement that we have already made, and it makes me excited to see what else is to come. This gives me motivation to explore my own theories in hopes that one day I can make my own machine that allows me to gain my own knowledge that I can then publish and share to the rest of  the psychology community.

What attracts me the field of psychology is the necessity to remove all barriers between people in order to approach every situation objectively. At our most primitive and basic core, we are all no more than connections of neurons trying to communicate with each other in order for the organism as a whole to properly operate. So to me, it is difficult to look at any situation without first considering all the possible psychological confounding variables that can put a spin on that specific situation.

Critical turning points in life have a knack for leaving a lasting impression on the demeanor and attitude of typical people. With that being said, it’s impossible to know the roots of all of the cumulative experiences of another person’s life, which supports the cliche of, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” By no means do I consider myself totally unaffected by first impressions; what I am trying to say is that I believe that taking an interest in the field of psychology at a young age has reminded myself at times to hold back any predetermined judgments about people who I have yet to get to know. The field calls for every person to be treated as, well, a person. Initiating and engaging in a conversation with someone that you previously thought had nothing in common with yourself can leave you walking away with alternative outlooks on any number of discussion topics.

I heavily believe in the concept that the brain not only decides, but dominates human behavior. The brain is like a muscle (theoretically, certainly not anatomically), and can be trained in the same manner. Maybe next time you’re next to a fellow student on the CataBus, you could spark up a conversation about whatever’s on your mind; maybe you’ll notice that if you make a habit of interacting with strangers that you’ll become more comfortable doing so and could potentially become a more outgoing person.

The connection I am looking to make is the one that holds the study of psychology together to the concept of positive inter-personal interactions. I think that this type of foundation for interaction has the potential to breed the highest level of shared knowledge and harmony.

To someone who would argue that the mind is not mechanically similar to an operating machine, I would point them to the new A.I. robots that are increasing in popularity. If we can replicate the processes that the human mind goes through, then it may follow that the inner mechanisms of the mind itself resemble that of a machine. We see robots on the news that can answer commands, speak words, and perform tasks that we never thought they would be able to do. Taking a closer look at the inside of the mind can enlighten us about these shocking similarities.

The brain is comprised of neurons that form long chains in order to transmit information to the entire body wherever it is needed. It is helpful to think of the neurons in the brain as track-ways of information that get stronger and stronger when they are being exercised. It is easy to understand this concept when thinking about addiction; as unfortunate as it is, addiction can teach us a lot about the way that brains work. When an addiction is fed, the neural pathways that support this addiction get stronger until they take over the individuals personality; addiction has the power to drag people into dark places of their life. In some ways, the addiction is literally living inside the person in the form of neural pathways that crave the source of the addiction.

The fuel of the mind’s machine is electricity. Electric impulses are the means by which information is transmitted throughout the body (this is combined with the release of chemicals to decode what each impulse means). When there is a “cog” malfunctioning in the mind, it is likely to show signs of harm somewhere else in the body. If the engine of a car is not working properly, the wheels won’t turn the right way. Similarly, if an individual has a stroke in the right half of their brain, it is not uncommon that the left side of their body will have partial or complete paralysis. This is due to the crossing-over of information that occurs when information is sent to the brain; this is further evidence of the complete interconnection of neurons and nerves that make up the body.

There is a phenomenon known as phantom limb syndrome that can also provide us with evidence of the way that the mind is connected to the entirety of the body. In the unfortunate event that an individual loses a limb, a leg for example, there are many reports of pain being sensed in the “phantom” limb; that is, the individual can still feel very real and very uncomfortable pain in a part of their body that is no longer attached to their body. The brain is creating it’s own stimuli as a response to their being no input from that area of the body. This can leave people in extreme pain and discomfort. Further analysis of the way’s that the mind are connected to the rest of the body can potentially provide us with answers to issues such as this one.

Of the many things that I enjoy about the field of psychology, I can’t forget to mention one of the most attractive aspects that this major has to offer. There is great diversity across the different sub-fields of psychology that are available for specialization. The three fields that I believe I have narrowed my scope down to are neuropsychology, forensic psychology, and sports psychology.

If I choose to pursue neuropsychology, it is likely that I will be able to help people who suffer from debilitating mental illnesses; there is a large gap in understanding to many common disorders. If I can gain a high-enough level of understanding for this field, I’d like to work in a hospital setting to be a consultant for someone who performs actual procedures, which typically would be a neurosurgeon. This would be a rewarding field, because I would get to see the impact I am making in action. The downside to this path is that it is possible that I will come across many people that I will not have the knowledge or ability to help, which can be a very unfortunate occurrence. It is truly saddening to know that some people have to live with certain mental illnesses for which there are no known cures.

Forensic psychology is interesting to me because it is an active field that can also lead to helping people, whether it be victims of crimes or individuals who act out against the law in certain ways that they themselves do not understand. This sub-field itself is broad with many different positions to offer. The downside to this field is that I may come across disturbing pieces of evidence when engaging in my research for specific cases. I will have to approach things objectively if I choose to pursue this field.

The third and final possible field I may go into is sports psychology. To pursue this field would be to combine two of my passions (sports and psychology) into one. I’m not sure what actual positions this field has to offer, I just know they exist; this is something I would obviously have to research more thoroughly. If I become an expert in this field I can help athletes to perform at their peak performance level without having a mind clouded with thoughts of doubt. Oftentimes we see great athletes being held back by their inability to overcome psychological obstacles. This is unfortunate, and it is something that can possibly be prevented or corrected.

Since everything we do requires the use of our mind, it follows that psychology can be incorporated into various different fields. Perhaps a double major would be a good idea to set myself up for the best opportunity to find a job in the field that I decide is the best fitting for myself. Again, it is still early in my college career, and I have time. It is still helpful to think about these things now so that I’m not feeling lost as a junior or senior. I’m just happy to be in a field where there is reasonable flexibility to do whatever I choose to do.

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson is a psychology professor at the University of Toronto, in Canada. He is a man that I hold in the highest of lights as far as the field of psychology goes; Dr. Peterson has taken his talents and interests in this field so far as to be able to give away large sums of money for causes that he believes can benefit society. A large portion of this money has been generated through donations to his cause, as most of his material is available for free on YouTube. Peterson has revealed aspirations to set up an online university dedicated to seeking out truth, morality, and knowledge for the enrolled students.

The reason I see Dr. Peterson as such an important individual is because he provides incredible insight on the field of psychology; he has spent decades contemplating problems, and you can hear the full conviction in his voice as a result of his in depth studies. One particular field that he oftentimes speaks about is the psychological significance of the Bible. This is a never-before-seen perspective on this religious text. It is interesting to me because the religious aspect of the book is lifted and replaced with a psychological explanation for why the collective authors of the Bible included the stories that they did. He analyzes stories such as Genesis, removing the divinity aspect. He instead reduces the story to theories about how our human species came to be conscious the way that Adam and Eve became conscious when they ate the apple. Peterson notes that it is indicated that they became conscious when they ate the apple because they instantly knew that they were naked; this is what set humans apart from animals. Animals are not self-conscious, and therefor are not aware that they are naked. He does not offer definite solutions to questions like these, but rather explores potential answers to some of the oldest questions around to date.

To those who have not ever listened to any of Dr. Peterson’s lectures, and to those who are not particularly interested in psychology, I urge you to go onto YouTube in your leisure time and search some of his material. His lectures range from the psychological significance of Biblical stories to lectures offering sage advice for those who are suffering from depression. His dry sense of humor and witty remarks are always entertaining when he is being interviewed for a radio show, or something along those lines. He is almost too smart to be funny, because you cannot tell if he is joking or not. It is true that there are few people who can top him linguistically; there are numerous times when he will pause during a lecture to mentally articulate an abstract thought, and then he will continue to captivate his audience with his language skills.  He is truly a well of knowledge that anyone can draw from, which is why I wish to share this opportunity with you.

Dreams are a phenomenon that are experienced by people of all ages, and even other species of animals. It is hard to categorize a dream under any type of mental process, because it’s more like its own unique realm of thinking. What is interesting about dreams is that, if analyzed, they can inform an individual about things that they know that they were not previously aware of about themselves. This concept is described by the word “subconscious.” Dream analysis can be a very useful tool to help someone maintain an inner peace with themselves.

The significance of dreams is a topic that has been up for some debate since it became a relevant psychological conversation. Some people believe that dreams are the product of random neuron firing in the brain that occurs while we sleep to create stimuli that we experience while in the REM stage of sleep. This is a theory that, to me, is completely useless and misguided. An alternative theory suggests that dreams are somewhat of a recap of that day’s events that are encoded into stronger memories overnight by the means of dreaming about them. This is a relatable theory, as it is not uncommon to dream about things that occurred in life throughout the preceding day. I believe that chalking up dreams to random brain activity is a way to seriously overlook an incredible mental process. Dreams can often give us insight on what motivates us and what our brains prioritize without us being aware of it. Dreams are the night time version of the sequence of events that play out in your head when you’re lost in a day dream; day dreams are usually highly focused on a particular motivation or goal.

(A brain during the normal phase of sleep is shown on the left contrasted with a brain in the REM stage of sleep on the right.)

An interesting concept about dreams is that people have been known to report similar dreams that can be interpreted to mean relatable feelings shared by many people. Common dreams include dreams about drowning, teeth falling out, getting bitten by a snake, or appearing naked in a crowded public place. These are some very odd dreams, and it is worth looking into why these dreams are reported by such a large number of people. Dreams that involve something happening to the human body are subject to interpretation because of the subliminal ideas that our unconscious minds associate certain body parts with. Teeth, for example, are a sign of aggression, power, and masculinity. A dream about the teeth falling out may represent events in someone’s life that have left them to feel powerless. A dream about getting bitten by a snake has been thought to resemble the need for change, or a “wake up call” in someone’s life. A dream about suddenly being naked in public can represent a feeling of being exposed or vulnerable in the person’s real life. Since we usually forget dreams shortly after waking up (that is, if we end up remembering them at all), it can be helpful to record the events and feelings associated with a dream in a journal immediately upon waking up, whether it be in the morning or in the middle of the night.

Dream analysis has been around since the beginning of modern psychology and is something that we still do not know very much about. The complexity and capacity for us to dream is something that I believe should not be overlooked. Dreams can play a key role in helping someone figure themselves out. Dreams bring out the most suppressed and subconscious feelings of people and should be regarded with the respect that they deserve.

The human brain may be the most complex thing available for human observation. We all have one, but we often don’t realize the capability of the three pound collection of cells in between our ears. When we see a family member or friend, we recognize them upon first glance. But have any of us ever considered the possibility that some people are unable to do such a thing? What could cause this to happen? The answer always stems from a difference in the activity or structure of certain areas of the brain; this concept applies to far more things than just facial recognition. The most appealing aspect of the brain and nervous system to myself is that it is the biological basis and regulator for almost all of life’s processes- your heart beat regulation, sleep cycle, feeling of hunger, and everything in between.

Made up of approximately 86 billion brain cells, called neurons, the brain uses a combination of electrical impulses, small chemicals called neurotransmitters, and hormones to regulate daily life functions. The way that neurons communicate with each other is through neurotransmitters that are released across a synapse (space between two neurons) as a result of an electrical impulse that is propagated down the length of the cell, which is a result of the stimulation via neurotransmitter from the cell before that one. There is a chain reaction from neuron to neuron until the desired body part is reached with the message.

We often take advantage of times when our brain is working properly, but mental illnesses are some of the most viscous and unforgiving conditions. Severe depression is a result of an overall reduction in brain activity, and can leave people with little to no motivation, along with many other symptoms. On the other end of the spectrum, someone with too much brain activity may suffer from disorders such as schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is characterized by the perception of stimuli when it is not actually present; this means hearing voices when no one is around, or seeing visual hallucinations. People with schizophrenia often report auditory hallucinations that are degrading, and sometimes yell at them and urge them to do things like kill other people.

As our understanding of the brain broadens with the advancements of technology and research methods, we can properly address mental health issues, as well as gain a better understanding of the way we think. It’s important to consider that if all of the potential knowledge we could know about the brain is thought of to be a mile long path, we have traveled about three inches. There is still so much that we are yet to know, and so much that we will likely never know. All we can do is come close enough to be able to figure things out in an empirical and scientifically supported fashion. I aspire to make revolutionary advancements in this field as I expand my knowledge of psychology.