Author Archives: Emily A Glogowski

One and the Same

Have you ever just wondered about twins?  They shared the womb, what else do they share?  By this I mean is there some type of telepathy that each twin experiences.  I, personally, am not a twin but there are multiple sets in my family.  I was always curious if they had some type of “magic” way of communication.  Many twins display unbelievably similar qualities I feel this is definitely possible on some type of level.

It is believed that some twins are more likely to have this telepathy trait than others.  This is said to be linked to how soon the egg splits.  “Usually this takes place a day or two after fertilisation, but division can take place up to twelve days…it now seems likely that the later the division, the closer the bond.”  With this being said, it looks like telepathy in “identical” twins is more likely than that of “fraternal”.  Although this might be true, there is a chance that twins of any kind never experience anything like this.  Some twins grow to hate each other in extreme cases and have little to no contact.  On there hand some twins are inseparable.

In 1979 at the University of Minnesota some twin research had begun.  Here they studied “twins who had been separated at birth and reunited later”. “What the researchers found was that there were often remarkable similarities between the twins’ personalities, likes and dislikes, skills, hobbies, etc. – indications of what is known as concordance. They never found any evidence of telepathy, however.”  Although results were not in favor of some type of telepathy existing, research done by others had more exciting results.

One being a journal entry written by John Wesley in 1781 “about a woman who had a twin sister “between whom and her there is so strange a sympathy that if either of them is ill, or particularly affected at any time, the other is so likewise.””

Another being research done by ophthalmologists in Philadelphia in 1963.  “They claimed that when alpha brain rhythm was artificially induced in one twin, the brainwave chart (EEG) of the other one showed the same rhythm at exactly the same time.”

The most interesting conducted at Rockland State Hospital in New York in 1967 where they were “using a plethysmograph to measure blood volume, and were able to conclude that “in a physically isolated subject, we have observed physiological reactions at the precise moment at which another [twin] was stimulated.””

Most of this information seems to be in favor of there being some type of telepathy but there is not certain answer.  There isn’t much research being done on the subject and I find it to be a very interesting topic.  These results were all gathered many years ago and I feel that if conducted today there may be different results.  There is no telling what one is capable of doing with todays technology.  All in all it looks like many twins have some type of special bond.  We’re not positive its telepathy, but there is an overwhelming amount of instances this could be true.  What do you think?  Can twins have some supernatural way of communicating?  To read a bit further on the topic check this article out, Twin Telepathy: Is there a ‘Special Connection’?.

Source:

“Twin Telepathy: Is There a ‘Special Connection’?” New Dawn The Worlds Most Unusual Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014.

Dreams?

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”  Those famous words we’ve all heard by John Lennon are what comes to mind when I think about the amazing phenomena we all experience, dreaming.   I feel many can relate in my curiosity of dreams.  Sometimes they’re great but other times they’re literally a nightmare.  So what are dreams all about?

In this article ,How Dreams Work, by Lee Ann Obringer she discuss the findings of various research on dreaming.  She states “…dreams combine verbal, visual and emotional stimuli into a sometimes broken, nonsensical but often entertaining story line.”  I would say this is pretty accurate depiction.  My dreams seem to have multiple realistic qualities with a twisted plot line.  I do find most of them pretty entertaining but always wake up scratching my head at the absurd events that sometimes occur in them.

One set of research Obringer had studied was that of Dr. Sigmund Freud.  His dream theory was “based on the idea of repressed longing — the desires that we aren’t able to express in a social setting.”  He heavily based this “on sexual desires and symbolism”.  It is said that this conclusion may be due to the period in which Freud lived, which was the Victorian Era.  A differing opinion was one by Carl Jung.  In reference to Freud’s work “He agreed with the psychological origin of dreams, but rather than saying that dreams originated from our primal needs and repressed wishes, he felt that dreams allowed us to reflect on our waking selves and solve our problems or think through issues.”  I feel this makes sense because a lot of what I dream has to do with the people and events currently in my life.

In later research, conducted by Allan Hobsen and Robert McCarley, there was a different theory about dreaming.  “Their research on what was going in the brain during sleep gave them the idea that dreams were simply the result of random electrical brain impulses that pulled imagery from traces of experience stored in the memory.”  They believe this happens “because the brain wants to make sense of what it has experienced.”  I find this theory to be logical but hard to relate to my own dream experiences.  I find myself, on many occasions, dreaming about what or who I had been thinking about right before I fall asleep.  I don’t find this to be “random” because I can relate it in some way to my current life.

Although I didn’t find any mind boggling explanations for the reason behind our dreams I do have a better understanding of what they are all about.  All dreams are usually on some type of personal level and can be related to your life in some way.  Some dreams amusing, others far from.  Theres no really telling what you may dream about.  It’s always a surprise and I find myself curious to see where my brain wonders while I sleep.  I guess I will never have a definite answer but I have some type of knowledge of why I dream what I dream.

Source:

Obringer, Lee Ann. “How Dreams Work.” HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

Listen Up

I can easily say music is a huge part of my life.  The various tasks I find myself doing each day are usually accompanied by music.  Weather it be while I’m doing homework, taking a shower, or walking to class, you can always catch me jamming out.  Music is much more than a form of entertainment while its playing into to your daily life.  Depending on what you are doing and what you are listening to, music can affect how productively you do the task at hand.

Gregory Ciotti, the author of How Music Affects Your Productivity, has looked at various different studies of the affects of music.  One study on music in the workplace had interesting results.  “Dr. Lesiuk’s research focuses on how music affects workplace performance. In one study involving information technology specialists, she found that those who listened to music completed their tasks more quickly and came up with better ideas than those who didn’t, because the music improved their mood.”  He feels that music may act as an escape from all the workplace “chatter”.

Although music, in the workplace, may be helpful in more ways than one, it could have a less beneficial affect in other areas.  One being “absorbing and retaining new information”.  In this case music becomes a distraction.  “Music demands too much of your attention–even when the sounds are subtle–to be listened to when you are trying to learn or analyze new information.”  I feel this is definitely true.  When I am trying to learn something and understand it, it requires my undivided attention.  I am very easily distracted and need to focus on something intently to retain its information.

Music may not be helpful in “absorbing and retaining new information” but I have found a sound that is helpful to me.  This is white noise.  Dictionary.com defines it as “…a steady, unvarying, unobtrusive sound, as an electronically produced drone or the sound of rain, used to mask or obliterate unwanted sounds.”  I feel I find white sound helpful because while I was in high school the air conditioning system was extremely loud and I became immune to learning in an environment with that type of sound.

Even though I find white noise helpful when I’m trying to focus, there is a way music can help too.  Ciotti says “It may be beneficial to listen to music you are familiar with if you need to intensely focus for a project.”  He says “The reason being is that new music is surprising; since you don’t know what to expect, you are inclined to listen closely to see what comes next.  With familiar music, you know what lies ahead and thus the sound doesn’t become your primary focus.”

Music affects us on so many levels.  I have come to include all different types and genres of music in my daily life.  It sets the mood for whatever I’m doing.  Research shows the huge positive affect it could have for some.  Next time your scrolling through your iPod be sure to remember what your about to do and choose carefully.  What you pick can be more beneficial than you think.

Sources:

“How Music Affects Your Productivity.” Fast Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.

Roommates: The worst or a blessing?

Starting a new chapter in life and heading off to college can be an opportunity for rediscovery for some.  This “rediscovery” can be heavily impacted by your freshman year roommate.  Several studies on various aspects of a college students’ life, including health, mood, academic productivity, drinking habits, and social acceptance, have been conducted.  These studies show the large influence that roommates in their freshman year have on one another.  Some being positive, while others being unfortunately negative and less than beneficial to ones success.

Heading off to college could be a burden in more way than one and your weight may take a turn for the worse because of stress or various other reasons.  Although this is common some may be effected in the opposite way.  “A new study of Marquette University freshmen who had been randomly assigned to rooms found that women with heavier roommates actually gained less weight on average than those with thinner roommates —“.  The reason being, those overweight roommates tend to diet and these habits tend to be picked up by the other person.  I feel this theory is true.  If one sees the person they live with practicing healthy eating habits it makes them feel obligated to do the same.  In turn this can cause problems later down the line.  “Margo D. Maine, a psychologist and specialist in eating disorders, warns that young women age 17 to 19 are at risk of developing some form of eating disorder, and some may be particularly susceptible to a calorie-counting roommate.”

This topic especially interests me because I have six roommates.  Currently the room is on the health kick and everyone is working out and watching what they eat, some being more interested in this little experiment more than others.  I am excited to see how the whole situation plays out and who lasts because on day two of the diet some are up in arms on the strict limits that some of the others have set.

Another effect that caught my eye especially was the mood component.  With the amount of girls confined in the small space we all live in, tensions can fly high and there is always some type of drama.  In a recent study by one of University of Michigan’s assistant professors of public health, Daniel Eisenberg, shows that only in males will there be a an effect in mood based off the other person. According to Eisenberg, this is because “This mood contagion seems to occur when the student keeps his feelings bottled up.”  Girls don’t usually have this problem.  They are more than willing to voice their opinion and confront any issue they have.

In addition to the two short standing effects I discussed there may be aspects that may carry on down the road that you picked up from your roommate.  You can read about these other effects in this article The Science of Roommates.  All in all college is an experience that changes people.  In some ways good and some bad.  Your roommate freshman year can have an effect you never expected and I feel one should be conscious of their surroundings and to only be influenced by the good and steer clear of any bad as best possible.

Source:

Moore, Abigail Sullivan. “The Science of Roommates.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 July 2010. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.

Dog vs. Cat

Are you a dog or cat person?  That is the question being asked by associate professor of psychology at Caroll University, Denise Guastello.  In her new study she finds that this opinion is a matter of the persons personality.  With each pet, there are associated personality traits.  Dog lovers were considered “more lively — meaning they were more energetic and outgoing — and also tended to follow rules closely.”  Where as cat lovers “were more introverted, more open-minded and more sensitive than dog lovers.”  She found people seem to make this decision “based on their own personality.”

Another factor said to be involved in the label cat vs dog person is the environment in which the person lives.  Based on this it entails the environment where you would most likely find a cat or dog.  Dog lovers tend to be out more with their dogs where as a cat person would rather hang at home.  The environment definitely is a major contributor to this “cat vs. dog” label.  If you think about it, there are various different living situations that may be appropriate for one pet and not the other.  The size of the family and the ages of those in the family may have a lot to do when deciding which pet is most suitable for the home.  Some homes who have small children may not be willing to take on the extra work that having a dog includes.  Another example may be an older couple who can’t handle the duties a dog entails.

In this study 600 college students were surveyed.  More than half, sixty percent, said they would prefer dogs and only eleven percent preferring cats.  Leaving the rest indifferent toward both.  Those who had voted dog were also found to have said they enjoyed the championship brought by a dog and those who voted cat tended to enjoy the affection they brought.  Despite these numbers, in 2007 the American Veterinary Medical Association found that there were roughly 81,721,000 cats in U.S. homes and only 72,114,000 dogs.  In addition to this, most households whom have a cat tend to have at least two.

Personally I would consider myself a dog person, but I find qualities in both animals that I can relate to myself.  This makes sense because it was actually the opposite growing up. I definitely was more of a cat person at that point in time.  Although I am energetic and outgoing, I don’t always tend to follow the rules.  This could relate to my initial attraction to the feline species.  Overtime my opinion changed.  I currently have a chocolate lab and he is my best friend. I love the type of bond you can make with dogs.  They truly are a mans best friend.

As you can see there is possibly many contributing factors that led you to label yourself as a cat or dog person.  These findings show there are tendencies in each animal’s personality that can attract you to that animal.  Weather it be the laid back personality of a cat or the energetic one of a dog.  So consider yourself, what are you?

Sources:

Rettner, By Rachael. “Dog People vs. Cat People: Who’s More Outgoing? More Intelligent?” LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 27 May 2014. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.

Pappas, Stephanie. “Here, Kitty, Kitty: 10 Facts for Cat Lovers.” LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 26 Apr. 2011. Web. 21 Oct. 2014.

Are you an addict?

When thinking of addiction, one doesn’t generally consider their eating habits to be considered such.  This assumption could be wrong.  Obesity has swept the nation and  as many of you know, the United States has been in an ongoing battle with this rising epidemic.  In 1999 some of the nations top food companies had come together to discuss this very issue.  At this time half of Americans were considered overweight and a quarter were considered obese.  This same issue was striking younger generations with over 12 million American children also considered obese.  These numbers would only get worse with time and some felt that these companies should take action to diminish this issue.

At this meeting these companies tactics were being compared to those of tobacco products.  These companies targeted children.  Advertising in a way that appealed to their interests.  I feel that this is definitely a factor that adds to the greater issue of overeating and obesity.  These companies go out of their way to push their products on to the consumer.  They are aware of what America is going through but continue to come out with new products that are less than beneficial to ones health.  This meeting was conducted to enact change and better the health of America.  They thought if the top companies could come together and discuss this issue that this would encourage action to fix it.

With all of this taking place 15 years ago I would consider these efforts unsuccessful.  Being part of todays society I can see this issue has only gotten worse.  I can relate to what a lot of Americans are also presently going through with the problem of overeating.  I would consider food addictive.  For some people food is something people turn to find comfort and others its just something they simply can’t control.  Whatever the reason may be, it is an issue for over half of the country.  Everyday we are exposed to unhealthy choices and its hard for some to turn them down. The issue is real and if continued our country will sure face even bigger problems down the road.

Despite all the efforts of companies to offer healthy alternatives in their products, consumers will still go for what “tastes best.”  This was the strong belief of the head of General Mills, Stephen Sanger.  He stated “Talk to me about taste, and if this stuff tastes better, don’t run around trying to sell stuff that doesn’t taste good.”  Sanger, being an insider from such a huge corporation, gives us a good understanding of what most companies goals may be when introducing a new product.  They’re just making what people will buy.

I feel that the issue of obesity could be blamed on both producer and consumer.  Choices made by each side have brought us to where we are today.  Michael Moss, the author of this article stated his finding to be “… a conscious effort – … – to get people hooked on foods that are convenient and inexpensive.”  With all of this being said I would say this country is facing a major issue.  Food is addictive and it’s hard to quit.  I feel that these issues should be confronted and that we should find away to get out of this issue that has already spiraled out of control.  To read more on this topic check out the article where I found all of this information, The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food.

Source:

Moss, Michael. “The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Feb. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.

1st post

Hi everyone, my name in Emily Glogowski and I am from Scranton, Pennsylvania.  I am taking SC200 because it’s different from every other “cookie cutter” science class I have been enrolled in prior.  It gives me a chance to take a science class where I can actually take interest in what we are learning.  I am currently enrolled in the College of Communications and majoring in advertising.  The reason I am not majoring is some sort of science is because I’ve hated science my entire life and I have always found it challenging.

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