Treating Depression: First Steps
Dr. Andrew Leuchter, Director of Adult Psychiatry at UCLA, talks about first steps in treating depression. Initially, Dr. Leuchter explains, doctors look for symptoms that often accompany depression, such as problems with sleep, energy, appetite, se...
What is Human Nature?: Plato's View of Human Nature
In 4th century B.C.E. Athens the philosopher Plato tries to define the basic parts of human nature using the metaphor of a charioteer and his pair of winged horses. He believes that a human being is essentially a soul with three parts: the rational ...
In the Driver's Seat: Appetite vs. Reasons
Two processes in the brain compete for control, the limbic system representing appetite and the cortex representing reason. When people are near something they really want, they may experience motivational myopia and shut down their cognitive functi...