The new blog would also be a random mix of cosplay+misc, so be prepared for more random and stuffs-which-doesnt-really-makes-sense /nods sagely

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Psy:

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Ch3: Learning

- Classical conditioning
→ Initially: Unconditioned stimulus (Kanda) will elicit a unconditioned response (*w*) naturally
→ During acquisition: Unconditioned stimulus is paired with a neutral stimuli (lotus)
→ Hence eventually: Conditioned stimulus (lotus) on its own will elicit the conditioned response (*w*)
→ But if after a while, keep showing conditioned stimulus on its own (lotus alone), there will be extinction of conditioned response (*w* lesser on seeing lotus on its own, after long time of no mention in manga)
→ If after a rest period, there would be spontaneous recovery (after hiatus, suddenly lotus = *w* again)
→ If still no pairing with original unconditioned stimuli (Kanda) there will be re-extinction again
→ Stimulus generalization – comes to pair related neutral stimuli with the unconditioned stimuli (any kind of pink blossom also remind ppl of kanda lol)
→ Stimulus discrimination – learning to differentiate between the different sorts of neutral stimulus (pink rose X)

- Operant conditioning
→ Where behavior is affected by the consequences (reward/punishment)
→ Premack Principle – promising yourself something pleasant as a motivation to do something unpleasant (ok I shall finish this topic today, then go watch anime later 8D)
→ Reinforcement contingencies (r/s between a response & the following change in stimulation)
→ Reinforcement – to increase response; punishment – to decrease response
→ Punishment
 Why may not work:
• When no immediate presence of threat (chibi Kanda not threatening, cannot stop Allen from poking fun at him)
• When lure of reward more then expected punishment (fun of seeing the amusing faces Kanda pull when angry is more than the expected punishment to Lavi)
• When it triggers escape/aggression (lol in the drama cd, when Kanda tell Allen not to command him to do the eggs, Allen go RAWR)
• When leads to learned helplessness (when Kanda glare at Miranda, she fails to learn new constructive behavior)
• Often administered unequally (alot to Allen, none at all to Lenalee)

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Ch4: Memory

- On transferring memory from short term (STM) to long term memory (LTM) – methods
→ Chunking – linking related concepts tgt for easy retrieval (kanda, lotus, mugen, tattoo, alma)
→ Maintenance rehearsal – keep repeating to remember (kandakandakandakandakandakanda)
→ Elaborative rehearsal – link back to stored knowledge (lol what I’m doing now to my psy stuff =X!) (related to levels-of-processing theory, web of interconnected associations= result in faster consolidation of memory to LTM)

- Consolidation of memory is related to emotions
→ Higher intensity of emotion, more vivid
→ If it’s a positive memory, the scope will be increased (Soba! Can rmb everything around)
→ If it’s a negative memory, the scope will be narrowed (Alma D: only can rmb the details of his face, everything else blank out)

- Structure of STM
→ Central executive (Kanda)
→ Phonological loop (“Yuu!”)
→ Sketchpad (*insert any Kanda pic here*)

- Structure of LTM
→ Procedural (how) (how to wield mugen)
→ Declarative (what) – semantic/episodic

- Retrieval cues
→ Successful retrieval depends on type of memory (good – animethingums/bad – schoolthingums) and on web of associations
→ Implicit/explicit
→ Encoding Specificity Principle – if retrieval cues similar to cues present when memory is stored, will increase connections to web of associations, then increase retrieval (when studying for exams, must drink ocha. Then during exam drink ocha = rmb easier :X)
→ Mood-congruent memory – remember something easier when mood is similar to the mood when you remember it (when emo will more easily think of ch188)
→ Prospective memory – remember to do something at a later date (to remember to camp outside kino for vol19! =x)

- Why will forget
→ Transience (Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve)
 due to interference: proactive (old disrupt learning of new memory – existing anime knowledge disrupt learning of new school stuff)/retroactive (new push out old – new anime knowledge push out older anime stuff)
→ Absentmindness – attention goes elsewhere (when studying, gaze goes to Kanda poster above: *w*)
→ Blocking (ToT, stress, age, drug-effects)
→ Misattribution – wrong retrieval: during exam recall Kanda stuff instead of exam stuff (CHOY) – due to reconstructive nature of LTM
→ Suggestibility – suggestion change memory
→ Bias – expectancy/self-consistency
→ Persistence – cannot forget (ch188 T_______T)

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Ch6: Developmental

- Kohlberg’s Stages of moral development
→ Preconventional
1) Egocentric – akuma
2) Reciprocity – noah
→ Conventional
3) Social acceptance – Lenalee
4) Follow rules/duty – Kanda
→ Postconventional/principled morality
5) For society’s welfare – Komui
6) Own ethical principles – Allen

- Parenting styles:
1) Authoritative – Allen
 Warm, attentive, sensitive to needs
 Reasonable demands, explains
 Allows some decision-making, listens to child’s POV
2) Authoritarian – Rouvelier
 Cold, rejecting, degrading to child
 Demanding, harsh, relies on punishment
 Makes decision for child
3) Permissive – Lenalee
 Is warm but may spoil the child
 Few demands, often out of misplaced concern for child’s self-esteem
 Permits child to make decisions before is ready
4) Uninvolved – Kanda
 Emotionally-detached, withdrawn, inattentive
 Few demands, often lacking in interest/expectations for child
 Indifferent to child’s decisions and POV

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Ch7: Sensation & perception

- Weber’s Law = size of JND is proportional to intensity of stimulus = if the stimuli is alot, will need to have a big change before the difference is noticeable (if theres alot of akumas, will need kill alot before the difference is noticeable)

- Sensory adaption = if after some time there is no change in stimuli, the body will no longer take notice of it (after some time, Kanda starts getting used to and ignoring all the lotuses around)

- Modern signal detection theory (on what factors affect the detection of stimuli)
→ Stimulus characteristics (Allen vs Lenalee calling: one to ignore and one to notice)
→ Background stimulation (presence of soba?)
→ Detector status (degree of pissed-of-ness)

- Visual – colours
→ Trichromatic Theory (the idea that akumas are sensed by 3 types of exorcists: 1st, 2nd, 3rd exorcists)

→ Opponent-process Theory (the idea that akumas in the dgm’s system are processed by exorcists in complementary pairs: eg. AllenxLenalee)

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Ch10: Personality

- 5-Factor Theory
→ Openness – curiosity vs close-mindedness (Lavi vs Rouvelier)
→ Conscientiousness – perseverance/goal-orientated vs irresponsible (Kanda vs Komui)
→ Extraversion – sociability vs shyness (Lavi vs Miranda)
→ Agreeableness – likeability vs coldness (Allen vs Kanda)
→ Neuroticism – emotionality vs emotional control (Lenalee vs Kanda)

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Elaborative rehearsal = to attempt to input stuff into long term memory by linking it to stored knowledge.

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Ok this is just a way for me to 1) attempt to revise for my exams the following week, and 2) try to distract myself from the nerves for tomorrow xD I know concept is kinda similar to what twin has done before (lolol another blatant copying!) But anything to memorise stupid biopsychology lol.

Hence to all: please just ignore the incoming WOT lolol. Some of the linkages are very lame. You have been warned.

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Ch2: biopsy

Parts of the brain OTL.

Brain got mainly 3 parts = brain stem, limbic system, cerebrum.

Brain stem is the most primeval; sets general alertness level and warning system.

- Medulla – regulates auto basic body functions (eg. breathing)
- Cerebellum – coordinate movement, keeps series of events in order, habitual responses we perform on cue (eg. see sezzy characters = stop breathing)
- Pons – regulation of sleep/dreams (eg. regulates how often one dream of Kanda)
- Reticular formation – controls alertness, monitors incoming sensory info and direct attention to important ones (eg. monitors incoming info of studies and newly-released chapter; will direct attention to important ones ie new chapter)
- Thalamus – relays sensory info, focuses attention (oh look, Gakupo!)

Limbic system; regulates emotions & motivated behavior, so no need just rely on instincts. Also got pleasure centers (8D)

- Hypothalamus – manages internal state of body, by monitoring blood & regulating any imbalances (See a Smexy Dude, start spazzing; hypothalamus will come regulate). Controls pituitary gland (hormones which tend to go haywire due to above example), and hosts some reward circuits (nuff said.)
- Amygdala – involved in emotion and memory; aggression, fear, and other emotion responses (SHE IS STEALING MY KANDA! NUUUUUUU)
- Hippocampus – involved in memory, esp long-term memory and locations of objects (I REMEMBER 5 YEARS AGO YOU TRIED TO STEAL MY ICHIGO RAWR)

Cerebrum (outer layers of which is cerebral cortex)
Has many lobes: Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital.

Frontal lobes; movement (battou), producing speech (Innocence, hatsudo!), abstract thought (lotus.)

- Prefrontal lobes – contributes to our most advanced mental functions (planning, deciding, personality, sense of ‘self’)
- Motor cortex – taking action on our thoughts by sending msgs to motor nerves and onto voluntary muscles (contains upside down map of body parts. Don’t ask.) Got mirror neutrons too, which fire ‘emphathetically. (see kanda D:, one will also D:)

Parietal lobes; specialize in sensation

- Somatosensory cortex (mirrors adjacent strip of motor cortex) – pri processing area for sensations from all over body (another nuff said.)
- In right hemisphere – locate objects in 3D space
- In left hemisphere – locate source of speech, and work with temporal lobe to get meaning from speech & writing (when he said I love you, does he mean he really loves me, he loves me, he loves me a little, or what?)

Temporal lobes
- Auditory cortex – helps make sense of sounds, esp speech (“Yuu!” = anger = DONT CALL ME BY MY FIRST NAME)
- Temporal + visual cortex – recognize face (Alma..!!)
- Temporal + hippocampus – store LTM

Occipital lobes
- Visual cortex – constitutes our moving picture of the world
- Occipital + parital – helps to locate objects in space (Now, where did I last left Timcampy..?)
- Occipital + temporal – produce visual memories (Timu can do it literally lol)

Association cortex:
Every task requires part of the brain to work together; to integrate & interpret info gathered from sensory parts of brain & memory.
(aka Black Order cortex – every mission requires Exorcists to work together, no matter how much they cant stand each other; to integrate & act on info gathered from the Findors.)

Cerebral Dominance:
Tendency of hemispheres to take the lead in diff tasks (seme/uke analogy LOL). They have diff function, but both sides must work together; don’t compete, but make dif contributions to similar tasks.
Left: more analytical & sequential / Right: more holistic, emotionally, spatially

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Genes & behavior linked thru evolution – natural selection

Genotype (blueprint, genetic makeup) produce phenotype (resulting structure, physical & behavioral thingums)

4 nucleotides (fits tgt like a zipper; if the protein is needed, will unzip & form template to build protein) [letters] -> make up genes (short segments called DNA) (each specify a single protein) [words] -> makes up 23 pairs of chromosomes [sentences – got specify where each gene begins and ends + commands on what they are supposed to do] -> makes up a cell

Diff species, diff ‘words’, but spelled with same 4 nucleotides

Heredity + environment both have influence on our behavior & mental processes

Internal body communication: through nervous system (fast-acting) & endocrine system (slower, supporting)

How it works:
Nervous system is made up of glial cells (structural support, form myelin sheath) and neurons (bundle = nerves). Types of neurons got sensory (sense organs ->brain), motor (brain->muscles) and interneurons (within brain).

How neurons work: incoming msgs go thru dendrites (net around cell body) to cell body/soma (central part of neuron, contains chromosomes). Soma will read msg, and decide; if decide to cont, will send electrical signal along axon. Initially resting potential is –ve, but energy from +ve ions make it +ve too, then got energy (all-or-none principle). After fire liao, ion pump will flush out excess +ve ions, go back to resting potential.

Msg currently going thru axon -> synapses, to terminal button. Msg in the form of vesticles with neurotransmitter molecules within reach presynaptic membrane, need to cross synaptic cleft thru process of synaptic transmission. Initially msg is electrical in nature, but since cleft is insulator, so need change to chemical msg so can cross.

Vesticles bob over until come into contact with membrane; vesticles pop open, release neurotransmitters to float across cleft and reach receptor sites across the cleft on postsynaptic membrane. Those that fit: stimulate receiving cell, pass msg on. Those that do not fit, too bad. Process of reuptake cause many neurotransmitters to be intercepted and drawn back (to down volume)

Synchronous firing: minority of neurons don’t send chemical msg across; they communicate directly thru electrical synapses (HA). Usually in parts of brain that oversee synchronized activity in a large no. of other neurons. (big boss!)

Types of nervous systems: got central nervous system & peripheral nervous system

CNS got 2 components, brain (voluntary movements) and spinal cord (involuntary reflexes). PNS got autonomic nervous system (unconscious) and somatic nervous system (conscious).

Autonomic one is to communicate with internal organs & glands, and got 2 kinds: arousing & not. Arousing is sympathetic division – fight/flight, tension, quick reaction. The not arousing, boring one is parasympathetic division, in charge of day-to-day stuff – calming.
Somatic one is to communicate with sense organs & voluntary muscles, and surprise surprise, also got 2 kinds: sensory nervous system (afferent – bring to) and motor nervous system (efferent – bring from).

Ok aside from the entire big family of nervous systems and their kakis, also got the endocrine system, which deals with hormones. Its controlled by the pituitary gland, which takes orders from the hypothalamus (don’t think wrong). It controls the body by sending hormone signals to various endocrine glands in the body.

Hormones are chemical msgs (hormones to endocrine system like neurotransmitters to nervous system). Travel in bloodstream, and influence body functions, behaviors, emotions.
Normal mode: endocrine + parasympathetic = for basic body processes
Crisis (core) mode: sympathetic kicks in, endocrine releases adrenalin to sustain.

Nervous system can be affected by psychoactive drugs: got 2 types, agnoists (enhance/mimic neurotransmitters) & antagonists (dampen/inhibit). Got side effects due to neural pathways: diff pathway may use same neurotransmitters for diff functions (lazy). So drug will also affect other unintended areas.

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\8D/

Lee Ong Liam

Wong Teck Fong

Wee Tong Heng

Roland Ong Fee Leng

Lee Meng Ao Oliver

Ong Ting Li

Ang Fong Kong

Tan Ah Teck

See Ting Fong Ulmar

Fong Ung Chee Kelvin

Heng Ang Hong Adrian

/goes back to studying

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Did you know that the QWERTY keyboard is actually designed to be deliberately inefficient?

The keys which are commonly used together in words are designed such that they are as far apart from each other as possible, so that the metal bits of the typewriters used at that time wouldn’t jam due to adjecent keys being pressed together at the same time. And yet even with inventions of more ‘efficient’ keyboard design like the Dvorak, people are happily resistant to change cause they are so ‘used to it’.

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I didn’t know that.

/random

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I’ve come up with a set of rules that describe our reactions to technologies:

1. Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.

2. Anything that’s invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.

3. Anything invented after you’re thirty-five is against the natural order of things.

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-Douglas Adams

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The whole process of the shoot, from decision to planning to making to shooting took like two weeks. Though at times it was kinda stressful with me and my very very smexy deak choinging, at the end it was all worth it =3 The shoot was really fun and the complex themes and concept involved really fun to plan. And not forgetting the WATER 8D

If interested, the pics from the shoot itself can be found here or in my dA here \o/

After like almost 2 months of a temporary self-imposed cosplay haitus due to school LOL, it was bliss being able to plan for/make props and costumes once again <3 Did the knife first cause I love propping above all others LOL. Was so far the fastest and easiest prop I’d ever done, took me only two days and its only cause the clay needs a night to dry hur. Partially its cause I used lightweight wood which is easy to saw, and also cause I threw aside all school stuff for the time being lol OTL.

Work in process.. Yes its the return of the fugly red clay again D< Looks much neater after the gessoing lol.

Used awesomely shiney paper for the blade, which explains why I didnt gesso the blade too hur. Must thank holy and lanlan for introducing me to this awesome material! \o/

Ok next up is his random outfit. Didnt take pics of the beige cloak thingum since its just well, a piece of beige cloth with stripes added on haha, but here’s the blue thing he had beneath. The drafting/cutting alone took longer than actually making and sewing the thing lol. I hate drafting, also cause drafting usually means crawling around on the floor OTL. But was rather satisfied at how the cloak turned out, considering it was made in less than a week lol! Inside is messy and happy lol but oh well xD

And the Ace cards! Made last cause turns out got abit more time haha. Was really fun to do! Destroyed two poker cards for this, plus one more for the blank card >D

I think I shall just post WIP pics on this blog instead of photoshoot pics or anything.. Just as a record hur. The actual photoshoot/event pics will be on my dA anyway lol.

Sigh the next time I make a costume from scratch would be in dec I think. Hmm.. Tifa/klaud nine/rinoa? OTL why are they all females! D: LOL

1 ) finally to touch el for midterms which haven touched at all

2 ) edit psyco paper

3 ) cnm assignment+related readings

4 ) japanese hwk for week 8

5 ) el affinity-group project

6 ) read psyco chapter for week 8

7 ) and to make.. *counts* 4 happy things for happy shoot lol

Jia lat.. Timeeee where is my timeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeraghhhhhhhh.

(and yes its similiar to twin’s list LOL. Twin is twin hence have twinnish thoughts. Uhhuh.)

Anyway sorry for letting this place rot for so long hahaha. Now that university’s started (and actually its already halfway through the semester omg) there has been alot lesser time for me to do the stuff that I like, to go out with friends, to spam animes/mangas, to write/practise draw ing more, to have/plan shoots, to plan upcoming characters and to go events (GCA! T.T).

Been really tired on and off these few days too.. Much to chiong and catch up before the midterms lol. And there was I after the horrible trauma called the Alevels naively thinking I wouldnt have to go through all those shit again hur. Well at least for this sem at least I actually enjoyed like half my modules, unlike back in JC where I only really liked one subject lol. But still, school stress + random unpleasant local politics + random unpleasant mean behaviour of people = iyaaadaaa D:

Being happy all the time is not easy too.. Sometimes I just wish to simply retreat back into my world and be blissfully oblivious for that short period of time the book lasts, or the anime plays, or when the sketch is done. My me-time. Ok well sometimes I do lol.

Maybe the self is the only thing one can totally rely on. People change, relationships wither, trust fades, life goes on, life ends; but as long as one can learn to depend on oneself, security is assured. Unfortunately, humans are societal creatures though..

Anyway, the earlier seven months of freedom really went past too fast. I miss those days where I would wake up, roll around for a while, before jumping up full of energy to continue making one prop or another, to plan upcoming shoots and characters, and to spam anime marathons.

Sigh I really hope all these effort and time isn’t wasted and that I will be able to major in what I really want.. Why must psychology be one of the very few majors which actually have a minimum entry grade OTL. Just implemented this sem too whee~

Sometimes its really hard to draw upon the motivation and energy to even just move forward. I’m tired..