Charles Darwin inspired scientists to accept his theory of evolution. He was convincing in explaining the current concepts that has contributed to the evolution of the human brain and mind. Adaptive to the environment, the human mind has certainly achieved a degree of complexity that it remains a ‘mystery’, a mystery that is in need of exploration and understanding.
Human psychology was popular in the European states as scientists and philosophers attempted to understand the workings of the mind through study of behaviour. As far back as 1879, a German, Wilhelm Wundt opened the first exploratory psychology school in Leipzig.
Learning about the mind from scientific principles can be difficult. Language, memory, the conscious and subconscious states are presumed to develop through forces unknown. Why do some acquire skills to speak in various languages so quickly while others don’t? How do children learn the mother tongue as their brain develops in a way different from adults learning a second language? Why does the memory of the child become more complex as they grow ? These are questions that need exploration of psychology of the mind.
The human is a social being and has enormous capabilities in thought processes and planning. The human mind can be both devious and forgiving, emotive and melancholic. We use different terms-the criminal mind, the kind person and psychotically depressed person!
We know, through Charles Darwin’s evolution theory that random inheritable changes have contributed to survival of humans who can adapt as the environment changes. Such an evolutionary process is necessary for existence and generation of the next set of humans. The term ‘natural selection’ becomes relevant and appropriate.
The theory of adaptation for survival is now well demonstrated in the pregnant uterus. Barker, an epidemiologist in the UK observed that survivors of the great wars (First World War)in Europe beget children who were destined to develop chronic diseases when they became adults. Barker’s theory is now accepted and now labelled ‘ fetal origin of adult diseases’. Mothers who were afflicted with conditions that affected nutrition and oxygen supply to the fetus were seen to deliver ‘growth restricted fetuses’. Such affected babies were light (smaller) for their age and gestation. Long term follow up revealed that they were more prone to diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease.
What we see here is an adaptive process where the fetus has to make changes in its metabolic and bodily functions to survive in an unfavourable environment-the poorly nourished uterus. Such changes come with a permanent change in their organ function. How does this tie up with the development of the mind and behaviour. Although differences between such babies and those born to normal mothers do not show a great difference in cognitive functions in the short term, more needs to be done to see the effects on the mind in later life.
Memory is a rather complex subject to study but theorist have been explaining the way memory develops. We are clear that memory is not static. The dynamic status is seen in all of us as we grow older. Memory declines after 30 years and that is worrying. Alzeimer’s disease and organic brain disease are debilitating and affect adversely quality of life. Are we wary of why these develop? What is the capacity of our memory. How do we ‘hide’ our loss of memory when we grow older. Do we repeat ourselves –have we been told that they have heard about that which you thought you were conveying for the first time?
There are ways to sustain a good quality of life through mind training and adapting to memory loss as we age. The mind has a huge capacity and we continue to learn about the mysteries surrounding it. We need to exploit this capacity through various strategies whether it be meditation, completing cross-word puzzles or doing one SUDUKU a day!
For a free assessment of memory go to:
http:/www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/memory/
SLingam
2nd April 2011
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