First presentation

 

What follows is the script my first ever presentation…

I’m going to blow your minds!

Brains – we all have them but some mothers of teenage children may argue that their children’s brains tend to shut down every now and then – but that’s a subject for another study. Why is the brain so important to study and why is it relevant to psychology?

Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour.

But what is the mind? This has been debated over many years without any definitive answer – so much so that there is a branch of philosophy called philosophy of the mind. In all cases, with the exception of some Buddhist doctrines (Kadampa Buddhism) the mind is closely linked to the brain.

Just as the concept of the mind has been linked to the brain, so too has the relationship between the brain and the body been hotly debated. Descartes argued that the body and the mind are separate. On the other hand, Antonio Damasio argues that the body and the mind cannot be separate as they depend on each other. In fact, body reactions can be an indicator of an emotional state in the mind and visa versa. A racing heart and sweaty palms could indicate fear or falling in love. Attempting to bring some clarification to the mind/body question drives my desire to study the brain.

Reflections

My first presentation was quite an experience. My main concern was the problem I have with my speech and I was worried that the audience could not understand me. However, the feedback I received was positive. I came to the conclusion that with practise I could also overcome my speech challenges.