Sunday, October 13, 2013

Article 10/13 - The latest drug that's sweeping the nation!

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/10/learn-something-new-your-brain-will-thank-you/

This article published on the CNN website talks about how learning new things can actually become pleasing to your brain. This pleasure is due to a release of dopamine in the brain because the brain is recognizing that it is learning something new. The difference between this dopamine release and the one that you receive from drugs is that you also have the feeling of accomplishment. The user do not have to keep going back to the activity in stronger doses to get the same rush unlike drugs. This idea plays back to Aristotle's idea that developing and living one's life to the fullest is much more satisfying than passing momental pleasure. Studies have shown that those who focus on personal development have lower stress levels and better sleep. Overall this article was interesting but a bit jumbled. The author jumps around from topic to topic. The purpose of this article is to inform and intrigue readers about habits of the brain. The intended audience is those interested in living a healthy life and or interested in neurological study. The author's ethos is that he is a cognitive psychologist. The logos is a few neurological studies but none mentioned in great detail so evidence is lacking a bit. The pathos is the author's own attempts at learning to play the guitar which many of us can relate to. 

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