Posted by llrrrpp on May 10, 2006, at 13:44:49
In reply to llrrrpp and LarH, posted by B2chica on May 10, 2006, at 11:31:21
Well, I'm very much on the other end of the "developmental spectrum" I actually study language acquisition in young children. So, I'm pretty useless when it comes to aging-related issues in psychopathology and neuropathology and communicative disorders (sorry).
In regard to a question from Lar, it's my understanding that the cortical representation of 2nd languages acquired early is highly overlapping with the primary language, whereas 2nd languages acquired later have more non-overlapping areas in the cortex. Having said that, any complex function like language draws on large distributed networks, i.e. networks related to processing sounds, processing faces, processing meaning and symbols, memory, and problem solving. 1st and 2nd languages by and large will show very similar patterns of activation in neuroimaging studies.
Trying not to get kicked off of this message board over to the social board, I pose the following question to you all: what do you think the mechanisms are that might relate talk therapy to decrease in depression symptoms. Particularly mysterious to me is the idea that bitching about my dissertation advisor to a relative stranger for 50 minutes once a week might improve my appetite.
Perhaps it's a matter of changing the bias for activation of negative memories, negative self-attributions, guilt and shame, and replacing these with ideas that I'm worthy and clever, and capable. But why would this affect my appetite? Is it mediated through activation of stress? Is it mediated through bypassing the anxiety circuit? I mean sometimes anxiety and stress are a good thing (It's adaptive to be scared of a pit bull, and perhaps by analogy, a thesis advisor?)
Okay, a teaser: llrrrpp is short for
l.lapiderroodyroodyrexlapexlapoo. Gesundheit! This was the nickname bestowed upon me by my dad, who has a communication disorder, incidentally...Sorry I can't go to Toronto. Even if I could go, I might run into my pdoc, who is going to the conference. and then he might find out my alter ego. FriGhteNinG!!
poster:llrrrpp
thread:641878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060505/msgs/642188.html