Podcasts by 60-Second Mind
Leading science journalists provide a weekly one-minute commentary on the latest developments in the science of brain and behavior. For a full-length, weekly podcast you can subscribe to Science Talk: The Podcast of Scientific American . To view all our archived podcasts please visit: www.scientificamerican.com/podcast
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Toddlers Beat the Great Apes at Social Learning from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.152070
New research in Science reveals that children and apes are on par when it comes to straight numerical and spatial abilities, but when they're tested on social learning, the children excel.
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New Head Protection for Footballers from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.148372
A new high-tech helmet allows coaches and sideline doctors to spot concussions and other dangerous injuries on the football field, in real-time.
The head gear has sensors that send impact measu...
How We Can Hear Without Sound from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.137129
Research published in Nature describes how spontaneous activity in a developing ear creates the mechanics of hearing in the absence of sound. Researchers say this might help explain the tortuous ri...
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The General Gist of False Memories from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.097855
Duke University neuroscientists have found a distinction between memories for specifics versus memories for the overall gist of an event. The latter, the overall impression we have of something, te...
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Fear Gets Us to the Gym from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.094192
Research from the University of Bath reveals that the kind of messaging that persuades us to get to the gym is based on how we see ourselves in the future.
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Race, IQ and Flynn from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.089440
James Flynn, who noticed that IQ scores have risen by three points every decade (a trend called the Flynn Effect), makes a case for why any racial differences in IQ are not immutable and caused by ...
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Fear Raises Self Esteem in Iraqi Teens from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.084908
A survey of 1,000 Iraqi teens reveals a surprising effect of living in a war torn country. Seems that when faced with an indirect threat to one's self or nation, we take action to raise our own sel...
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Experimenting With Drugs from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.081679
While at Stanford in the mid-1960s, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest author Ken Kesey started adding a peculiar ingredient to his homemade venison stew--LSD. Now, more than forty years later, the ps...
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Brain Images Make Inaccurate Science News Trustworthy from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.078894
Research published in the April issue of the journal Cognition shows that the colorful brain images created by functional magnetic resonance imaging can give a perceived credibility to an otherwise...
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The Lure of Bette Davis Eyes from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.075502
Two scientists from the University of Bremen have found that groups of brain cells within the temporal lobe of macaque monkeys, are not only dedicated to recognizing facial features, but each cell ...
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Craving for Sex May Trip Other Hungers in Men from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.071884
Watching women in bikinis tends to make men more impulsive when it comes to monetary decisions. Christie Nicholson reports.
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No Fair! My Serotonin Level Is Low from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.070814
The chemical messenger serotonin, thought to be implicated in depression and anxiety, may change the way we see fairness in social situations. Christie Nicholson reports.
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E-Therapy: Working It Out Online from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.067472
A new study in The American Journal of Psychiatry evaluates the merits of digital therapy. Christie Nicholson reports.
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Rest Assured: The Brain Practices the Day's Lessons as We Sleep from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.063775
Studies show we may be doing a lot more than just resting while we sleep. In fact the brain is hard at work, consolidating, sifting and moving the information we acquired during the day. Christie N...
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Is Fidelity in our Genes? from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.060144
A gene that promotes monogamy in rodents may do the same in humans. Researchers think variation in this gene may help predict your man's ability to commit
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Observers of Walking Figures See Men Advancing, Women in Retreat from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.059310
When viewing figures walking, a curious illusion appears. People perceive male strollers as moving toward them, whereas the female walkers appear to be moving away, regardless of the figure's actua...
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Musicians Think Differently from the Rest of Us from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.055769
New research shows that musicians simultaneously use both sides of their brain more often than nonmusicians
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More Sex for Women? from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.051945
A recent analysis of survey responses shows who's cheating: Women, young couples and the over-60 crowd are closing the infidelity gap. Rachel Mahan reports
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Cyberchondria: Online Diagnosis Leads to Obsessive Fear from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.048435
Beware using the Web for self-diagnosis, you'll probably end up with a lot of unnecessary stress, according to a recent study by Microsoft. Christie Nicholson reports
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To Get Good Grades, Get Good Sleep from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.047530
Research suggests that college students don't get enough sleep, and that they are far better off sleeping than cramming for exams. Steve Mirsky reports
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A Blind Man Sees from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.043821
A recent paper in Current Biology provides one of the few human cases of blindsight, the ability for perceptively blind people to respond to visual stimuli, even though they have no awareness of se...
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Muscle Movement Affects How We Hear from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.040140
The area of the brain responsible for movement plays a larger role than previously thought in how we hear speech. Christie Nicholson reports
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The Scent of Sexual Sweat from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.039235
Do you like the scent of your Valentine? The Journal of Neuroscience reports that certain regions in women's brains are activated when they smell "sexual sweat." Christie Nicholson reports
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Online Games as Study Tool from 2022-02-22T12:24:49.035485
An interdisciplinary research group called the "Virtual Worlds Exploratorium" has started to analyze data from the online game EverQuest II, in order to find out more about real-life human behavior...
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Hope for Spinal Cord Injuries from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.993780
A paper published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA reports success in repairing damaged nerves in a system critical for human movement. Christie Nicholson reports
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Immorality and Twitter from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.990146
The other week headlines were crying out that Twitter, the microblogging platform, makes us immoral, but the study on which the claim was made did not mention social media. Christie Nicholson reports
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Our Bodies, Our Brains from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.988503
Recent studies have shown that moving our body in certain ways can improve our ability to think. Christie Nicholson reports
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Severe Weather Psychology, Part 1 from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.986646
Jacqui Wilmshurst, a PhD psychology student at the University of Sheffield, is spending summer in the field studying human reactions to severe weather and tornadoes. In this special longer-than-usu...
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Severe Weather Psychology, Part 2 from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.985787
A psychology PhD student from the University of Sheffield shares her initial observations on how well local people understand the behavior of tornadoes. Christie Nicholson reports
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Answers to the Rorschach Test Revealed from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.983256
A recent debate erupted on Wikipedia concerning the public posting of popular interpretations of the Rorschach test. Christie Nicholson reports
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Where the Desire for Change Resides from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.979398
Scientists have found an area of the brain that becomes highly active when we finally decide to explore the unknown. Christie Nicholson reports
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What the Experts Still Don't Know from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.975234
Twenty three world-renowned psychologists write about what they still don't understand about themselves
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Hearing Our Heartbeats from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.948071
Scientists have recently found that there are two brain pathways involved how we perceive our own thumping hearts. Christie Nicholson reports
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Fear of Fear Itself from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.944494
A recent study links fear of feeling anxious to depression. Christie Nicholson reports
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Hockey and Concussions from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.943610
Researchers are asking hockey players to give up their brains to study the long-term impact of concussions. Christie Nicholson reports
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No Gender Gap in Math from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.939953
A worldwide study of nearly half a million boys and girls found no significant gender gap in math ability. Christie Nicholson reports
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Dealing with Super Bowl XLIV Pressure from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.935496
Sports psychologist Patrick Cohn discusses two types of athletes, and how to deal with pressure in the days before the big game. Christie Nicholson reports
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Happy People Talk More Seriously from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.890726
A recent study analyzed 20,000 conversations and found that happiness strongly correlated with talkative people who went beyond the small talk. Christie Nicholson reports
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Neuroscience Is Everywhere from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.887412
From literature to architecture, academics and entrepreneurs are using neuroscience to explain everything from why we like a complex narrative thread to why round tables are more social. Christie N...
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Risk-Taking Behavior in Teens from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.883896
Many studies suggest that risk-taking behavior in teens is due to the slow development of brain function that controls impulsivity. New research concludes it's not that simple. Christie Nicholson r...
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Lower IQ Scores Linked to Higher Suicide Risk from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.879364
A study of over one million men shows a link between IQ scores and attempted suicide. Christie Nicholson reports
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The Connection Between Multiple Sclerosis and Depression from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.875728
Research in the journal Biological Psychiatry finds a potential physiological connection between multiple sclerosis and depression. Christie Nicholson reports
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Psychology Studies Biased toward Western Undergrads from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.871183
A recent and exhaustive meta-analysis of scientific data shows that top psychology studies tend to make conclusions about human nature based on samples taken solely from Western undergraduate stude...
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It's Very Tough to Tell Just How Drunk Someone Is from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.866046
A recent review of studies on intoxication has determined that we are very bad at determining just how drunk someone is. Christie Nicholson reports
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Tennis Players' Grunts May Slow Opponents' Reactions from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.862335
A recent study shows the negative impact that noise can have when one is attempting to predict where a tennis ball will land. Christie Nicholson reports
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Thinking about Time or Money Impacts How We Spend Our Days from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.861445
Priming our mind with thoughts of time or money influences our future behavior. Christie Nicholson reports
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Male Names Are Still Mentioned First from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.857804
A recent study finds that despite our efforts for parity between the sexes, male names still come first when referring to a couple. Christie Nicholson reports
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Visual Illusions Depend On Visual Cortex Size from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.851250
Research released today in Nature Neuroscience finds that we are are more likely to be tricked by a visual illusion if we have a smaller amount of brain real estate devoted to visual processing. Ch...
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What It Means to Forgive from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.847655
This New Year's as we reflect on our experiences with friends and family we might think about forgiveness, both given and received. Philosopher Charles Griswold provides some guidance. Christie Nic...
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The Popularity of Predictive Medical Testing from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.846569
A recent survey performed by the Tufts Medical Center finds that many would take a predictive test for prostate cancer. Christie Nicholson reports
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Cannabis May Influence Onset of Psychosis from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.842824
Research to be published this summer finds that the use of cannabis is associated with the early onset of psychosis. Christie Nicholson reports
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Perception of Our Physical State When Depressed or Anxious from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.838325
Depression and anxiety have very different influences on how we perceive physical symptoms. Christie Nicholson reports
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People with Tourette Syndrome Show Strong Cognitive Control from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.789944
Research finds that increased brain activity in key areas is tightly linked to an ability to control the tics caused by Tourette syndrome. Christie Nicholson reports
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Know Thyself from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.783806
A recent review paper shows that we might not know ourselves as well as we think. Christie Nicholson reports
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Math Learning Disability as Common as Dyslexia from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.778408
Research has found that dyscalculia, a learning disability focused around number and math concepts, is as common as dyslexia. Christie Nicholson reports
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Hot Baths May Cure Loneliness from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.773361
Recent research finds that taking a hot bath can cure loneliness. Christie Nicholson reports
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More Football Players Found to Suffer from Degenerative Disease from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.767831
The Canadian Sports Concussion Project announced
the results from brain autopsies of four CFL football players. Two of the players suffered from the degenerative disease chronic traumatic encep...
Global Survey Links Religion and Happiness from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.764057
An analysis of the Gallop World Poll finds that there is an association with religion and increased happiness, but only in societies that lack adequate social support. Christie Nicholson reports
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Overeating Depends on Context from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.762261
Research has found that ritual and context influences us to eat too much with no regard for quality. Christie Nicholson reports
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Clothing Reveals Racial Stereotypes from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.757707
A study in the journal Public Library of Science ONE finds that many judge race based on types of clothing. Christie Nicholson reports
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Young Children Think Differently about Ownership from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.756918
Research shows that young children tend to think that naturally occurring objects like pinecones or rocks cannot be owned. Christie Nicholson reports
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Brains Built to Cooperate from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.753482
Research finds support for the theory that brains excel when we cooperate. At least in duet-singing wrens. Christie Nicholson reports
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Killing 1 Person to Save 5 from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.750030
Researchers test a famous ethical dilemma called the "trolley problem" in a very real setting. Christie Nicholson reports
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Cognitive Decline Sets in around Age 45 from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.745683
A new study finds that the inevitable cognitive decline we all face starts earlier than we originally thought. Christie Nicholson reports
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More Than One Blow for a Concussion in Football from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.701103
A recent study shows that it's multiple blows to the head that lead to a concussion in football. Christie Nicholson reports
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Hunger Affects What We See from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.697767
When our body needs something, like food, the brain tends to open a fast track for perceiving that specific thing. Christie Nicholson reports
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We Tend to Underestimate How Much We Weigh from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.694475
New research has found significant discrepancies between how much people think they weigh and how much they actually weigh. Christie Nicholson reports
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Shut Off E-Mail to Ease Work Stress from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.691386
Workers who turned off their e-mail had lower stress and did less multitasking compared with co-workers who left their in-boxes open. Sophie Bushwick reports
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Different Sports Require Different Motivation from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.688076
Performance in different kinds of sports benefits from specific types of motivational "self-talk." Christie Nicholson reports
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Testosterone Promotes Aggression Automatically from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.687272
New research suggests that testosterone may make us more aggressive without us consciously feeling any aggression. Christie Nicholson reports
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Do We Care About Future Generations? from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.676532
New research finds that we tend to care more about the success of future generations when we are faced with our own mortality. Christie Nicholson reports
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Lingering with a Decision Breeds More Indecision from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.675721
Researchers have found that time spent deliberating on a decision actually exacerbates the difficulty in making that decision. Christie Nicholson reports
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Wobbly Chairs May Affect Your Values from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.672237
A study finds that unstable furniture can influence how we feel about our relationships. Christie Nicholson reports
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Improving Eyewitness Accuracy in Police Lineups from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.668645
Making decisions faster may improve the accuracy of choosing the guilty person from a police lineup. Christie Nicholson reports
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When We Hear a Sound from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.665258
We tend to notice sounds that appear much more often and accurately than sounds that vanish. Christie Nicholson reports
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Stable or Sexy? It Depends on Ovulation from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.661757
A women who settles down with what she considers to be a stable man might not find him all that attractive while she is ovulating. Christie Nicholson reports
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Bad Boys and Gals Present as More Attractive from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.659366
People who score higher on negative personality traits know how to look hotter when they try harder than do those with more stable characters. Christie Nicholson reports
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Civilian Trauma May Contribute to Combat PTSD from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.658282
Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder were more likely to have experienced violence or abuse in civilian life, especially during childhood. Karen Hopkin reports
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Dexter Talks Psychopath Stress Management from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.655844
Michael C. Hall, of TV's Dexter, talks about psychopathy with psychologist Kevin Dutton, author of The Wisdom of Psychopaths
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We Are What We Smell from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.652330
A recent study finds that we can instill our emotions in others through chemical signals delivered by scent. Christie Nicholson reports
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Sexting Habits of Teens from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.643568
A recent study takes a closer look at the sexting habits of one particular subgroup within teens. Christie Nicholson reports
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Unhealthy Eating Leaves You in a Bad Mood from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.640944
If you are in a bad mood don't try to comfort yourself with unhealthy food. Christie Nicholson reports
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Money Is Valued Differently Depending on How It's Earned from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.637332
We tend to diminish the value of money earned through questionable means. Christie Nicholson reports
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The Quirk of a High IQ from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.600980
It seems that those with high IQs have a beneficial quirk in their ability to perceive a moving scene. Christie Nicholson
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Expansive Postures May Lead Us to Dishonesty from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.598401
A study finds that large, expansive body postures may influence people's honesty. Christie Nicholson reports
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Portion-Size Label Influences Ingestion Intake from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.595309
People ate less of a portion of food if it was labeled "double-size" rather than "regular." Karen Hopkin reports
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We Probably Won't Recycle Shredded Paper from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.592667
Turns out that if we think something looks like trash then we probably won't bother recycling it. Christie Nicholson reports
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When to Catch a Lie via Text from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.591860
A recent experiment finds that when people are about to lie via digital text they take longer to construct their words. Christie Nicholson reports
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Reducing a Fear During Sleep from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.589330
Exposure to a fearful memory while in deep sleep may help reduce the fear. Christie Nicholson reports
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Seeing Photos of Food Makes Actual Food Less Tasty from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.588550
Looking at photos of food can lead us to become bored with other similar foods. Christie Nicholson reports
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Music Helps You Work Harder from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.586741
Physical labor is often made easier when accompanied by music. But is it merely listening to music that helps, or is it more motivating to participate in the music itself? Christie Nicholson reports
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How Computers Affect Our Movements from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.581696
Computer-use affects the brain's ability to generalize the skill of moving a mouse. Christie Nicholson reports
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Movie-Watching Together Strengthens Marriages from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.579311
Psychologists found that encouraging newlywed couples to watch romance flicks, and then discuss them cut the three-year divorce rate in half. Christie Nicholson reports
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Your Memory May Be Edited from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.577480
Recent and easily retrievable information can overwrite the details of memories, thus altering them in your mind. Christie Nicholson reports
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Kids Books May Cause Confusion about Animals from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.573697
Children who heard descriptions of animals behaving like humans were less likely to attribute to a real animal a newly learned biological fact than were kids who heard realistic information. Christ...
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Eaters Assume Crunchy Foods Have Fewer Calories from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.570575
Food’s texture in your mouth—also called “mouthfeel” or “oral haptics”—influences estimates of calorie counts. And people might eat more crunchy stuff assu...
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Vision Involves a Bit of Hearing, Too from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.568347
Researchers could tell what sounds blindfolded volunters were hearing by analyzing activity in their visual cortexes. Christie Nicholson reports
Can’t Take My Eyes off You—Your Face, That Is from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.550349
The direction of your gaze when looking at someone offers an unconscious, automatic giveaway of whether your initial reaction is romance or sex. Christie Nicholson reports
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Big Parental Control May Stunt Kid Assertiveness from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.548859
Young adults who’d had highly controlling parents were less able to stress their own viewpoints to a friend or partner in confident and productive ways. Daisy Yuhas reports
Synchronized Walking Reduces Opponent's Perceived Size from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.548154
Subjects who kept pace with a walking colleague estimated a potential enemy to be smaller and lighter than did other walkers who were not marching. Karen Hopkin reports
Bouncy Gait Improves Mood from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.547380
If you're in an up mood, you may walk more energetically. But a study finds that purposefully walking more energetically may improve your mood. Christie Nicholson reports
Junk Diet Rewires Rat Brains from 2022-02-22T12:24:48.543400
High-calorie and exceedingly pleasurable foods appear to change rat brain rewards circuitry, causing the rodents to continue to seek such fare. Erika Beras reports
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Up Your Online Dating Game with Evidence-Based Strategies from 2015-02-14T15:10
Choosing a user name starting with a letter appearing earlier in the alphabet is just one scientifically vetted way to increase the odds of turning an online encounter into a first date. Christophe...
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High Price Tag on Meds May Boost Healing from 2015-01-31T14:00
Parkinson’s patients derived more benefits from a salt solution they were told was an expensive drug than from the same solution when it was described as being cheap medication. Karen Hopkin ...
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Publication Bias May Boost Findings for Bilingual Brain Benefits from 2014-12-30T20:06
Of studies presented at conferences, those that found a cognitive benefit to bilingualism were almost twice as likely to get published in journals as were studies finding no benefit. Karen Hopkin r...
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Inclusion Illusion Lessens Racial Bias from 2014-12-20T09:00
Implicit bias against another race lessened after volunteers experienced themselves via virtual reality as a member of that race. Karen Hopkin reports
Blood Test Forecasts Concussion Severity from 2014-12-15T19:00
Levels of a protein fragment in the blood paralleled how long head injuries benched hockey players. Ingrid Wickelgren reports
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Lots or Little Sleep Linked to Sick Days from 2014-09-29T13:00
Absence from work due to illness increased dramatically for those who slept less than six hours or more than nine hours per night. Christie Nicholson reports
Talking to Strangers Makes You Happy from 2014-08-30T18:00
People who had to strike up conversations on a subway later reported feeling happier than those who didn’t. Christie Nicholson reports.
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People Think Experiences Bring Happiness, Still Opt for Things from 2014-08-24T16:15
Survey subjects rated life experiences as making them happier and as a better use of money than buying objects. But they actually spent their cash on material goods, whose value is more easily quan...
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Childhood Stress Decreases Size of Brain Regions from 2014-08-16T09:00
Children who experience neglect, abuse and/or poverty can have smaller amygdalas and hippocampuses, brain regions involved in emotion and memory, compared with kids raised in nurturing environments...
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Even Monkeys Believe In Hot Streaks from 2014-08-12T12:55
Monkeys trained to play fixed video games made moves indicating that they expected certain patterns to occur. Erika Beras reports
Brain State Bread Crumbs Lead Way Back to Consciousness from 2014-07-28T19:00
Researchers studying anesthetized rats discovered a handful of activity patterns that may mark the path to consciousness after anesthesia. Karen Hopkin reports
Body's Pain Perception Mapped for First Time from 2014-06-23T10:43
Our ability to pinpoint pain varies across the body, and in a specific pattern. Christie Nicholson reports
Parents Who Support Corporal Punishment Do It a Lot from 2014-05-21T20:25
Thirty-three families allowed themselves to be recorded for up to six nights. Parents who said they supported corporal punishment did it often and with little provocation. Christie Nicholson report...
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Extroversion Extends Benefits across Cultures from 2014-05-14T13:20
In a study covering five different countries, subjects reported feeling best on the days when they practiced what are considered extroverted actions. Christie Nicholson reports
Stressed Teens May Be Better Drivers from 2014-04-28T19:00
Teenage drivers who have a high sensitivity to stress actually have lower rates of car accidents than their more mellow friends. Christie Nicholson reports
Mobile Phones Exert Emotional Pull from 2014-04-21T11:07
What's being called "nomophobia," the anxiety of not having your mobile phone with you, may be a real condition among teens, at least according to two recent studies out of South Korea, t...
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Barbie Exposure May Limit Girls' Career Imagination from 2014-04-12T11:45
Girls who played with dolls were then asked about future careers. Those who played with Barbie more likely to envision traditional pink-collar jobs than were girls who played with Mrs. Potato Head....
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Danger Explainers Convince Kids Better Than Do Edict Issuers from 2014-03-24T12:25
Moms were better able to sway a child's perception of risk when they explained the reasons an activity was dangerous and its possible consequences rather than just saying no. Christie Nicholson rep...
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Youth Gang Membership Affects Mental Health Later in Life from 2014-03-19T18:36
Adults who had been members of gangs in their adolescence had poorer outcomes on a variety of measures, including physical and mental health, than those who'd never been in a gang. Christie Nichols...
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Infants Use Verbs They Know to Learn New Nouns from 2014-03-10T23:58
Babies learning speech figure out what an object is by listening to others talk about what that object does. Christie Nicholson reports
Young Musicians Reap Long-Term Neuro Benefits from 2014-02-22T09:00
People who played instruments as children responded a bit quicker to complex speech sounds as adults, even if they had not played an instrument in many years. Erika Beras reports
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Review Finds Meditation Somewhat Effective against Anxiety and Depression from 2014-01-27T17:21
A meta-analysis of 47 previously published studies concludes that there's moderate evidence for meditation offering some relief of anxiety and depression, and low or insufficient evidence for effec...
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Brain-Training Games May Not Improve Overall Intelligence from 2014-01-14T00:00:08
Brain-training games seem to temporarily improve specific tasks, but claims that they can improve overall brain function have yet to be proved. Christie Nicholson reports
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"Angelina Jolie Effect" Leaves Public with Inaccurate Knowledge of Breast Cancer Risk from 2013-12-27T00:00:08
A survey of 2500 Americans finds that despite many knowing about Jolie's preventive double mastectomy, most remain in the dark about breast cancer risk. Christie Nicholson reports
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Test Prep Doesn't Help Raise Intelligence Scores from 2013-12-19T00:00:08
Scores on standardized tests may go up but a student's ability for abstract and logical thinking may not improve. Christie Nicholson reports
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Pain Now Is Easier Than Pain Later from 2013-12-13T00:00:08
Delaying inevitable pain may not be the best route when it comes to decreasing your anxiety. Christie Nicholson reports
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We Are More Likely to Lie in the Afternoon from 2013-11-30T00:00:08
If you want to catch someone in a lie, you'll raise your odds in the afternoons, as most people are more likely to cheat or lie then as opposed to the morning. Christie Nicholson reports
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Overeating Due to Stress? from 2013-11-17T00:00:08
If you over-eat or under-eat as a reaction to stress, don't worry, your body may compensate to balance you over time. Christie Nicholson reports
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Anxiety Increases with Online Health Searches from 2013-10-26T00:00:08
A study of so-called cyberchondriacs finds that those who are uncomfortable with uncertainty only feel worse the more they search online for health symptoms. Christie Nicholson reports
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Generosity Can Breed Contempt from 2013-09-24T20:54:08
In a group experiment, members who donated the least and the most to the community were both ostracized. Amy Kraft reports
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Babies Know Animals Have Gushy Insides from 2013-09-15T00:00:08
It appears we might be born with the knowledge that living things have insides and are not hollow. Christie Nicholson reports
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Food Is Tastier When Part of a Ritual from 2013-08-24T00:00:08
A special occasion can often make food taste better, and the more you are personally involved in its preparation the better. Christie Nicholson reports
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Limit Youth Football Practice Hits For Brain Health from 2013-08-18T15:13:08
Changes in youth football practices cut total hits to the head in half, while leaving game situations unaffected. Ingrid Wickelgren reports.
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Social Status Affects Who We Choose to Believe from 2013-07-28T00:00:08
When it comes to news or political statements, the more powerful the speaker the more we are likely to believe them. Christie Nicholson reports
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Happiness During Teen Years Predicts Happiness as Adults from 2013-07-22T00:00:08
A survey of thousands finds that our mood during the young adult years is a good predictor of later happiness in retirement. Christie Nicholson reports
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What Fighting Couples Want from 2013-07-15T00:00:08
Fighting couples don't want an apology, but rather for one partner to relinquish power. Christie Nicholson reports
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Training Can Increase Empathy from 2013-06-24T00:00:08
A particular type of meditation training led study subjects to become more altruistic. Christie Nicholson reports
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Memory Loss during Menopause from 2013-06-12T14:00:08
Many women complained about memory loss during menopause, but a recent study provides the evidence. Christie Nicholson reports
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How to Enjoy Your Decision from 2013-05-22T00:00:08
When facing a lot of choice, it is best to decide on one option and then physically shut off all others. Christie Nicholson reports
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Inside the Mind of a Psychopath from 2013-05-14T00:00:08
The brains of psychopaths react differently to images of someone being hurt than the brains of non-psychopaths. Christie Nicholson reports
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Green Spaces Promote Happier Communities from 2013-04-29T00:00:08
A long-term survey of more than 10,000 people finds that green spaces make for better moods. Christie Nicholson reports
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Memory Improves with Sleep from 2013-04-15T00:00:08
Sleep plays a crucial role in better memory. Christie Nicholson reports
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Being Monkey in the Middle Is Stressful from 2013-04-10T00:00:08
A recent study of macaque monkeys finds that those who are of middle status tend to experience the most stress. Christie Nicholson reports
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Mindfulness May Improve Test Scores from 2013-03-28T00:00:08
A recent study finds that a meditation practice improved Graduate Record Exam scores. Christie Nicholson reports
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We Think the Future Is Closer Than the Past from 2013-03-22T00:00:08
A recent study finds that we might think of time as though we are literally moving through it. Christie Nicholson reports
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Studying Languages Can Grow the Brain from 2013-02-28T00:00:08
Researchers have found that people who study languages tend to show significant growth in certain areas of the brain. Christie Nicholson reports
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Three-Year-Olds Know Better from 2013-02-18T00:00:08
A study finds that three-year-old children know a lot more than we might give them credit for. Christie Nicholson reports
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You May Think Your Name Is Rare from 2013-02-11T00:00:08
We tend to overestimate how rare our names are, perhaps in an effort to preserve a sense of being special. Christie Nicholson reports
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Coffee Boosts Recognition of Positive Words from 2013-01-30T00:00:08
A recent study finds that we tend to recognize words associated with positive thoughts faster after we've had some coffee. Christie Nicholson reports
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Diapers Hinder Walking for Babies from 2013-01-23T00:00:08
A new study finds that diapers, both disposable and cloth, impede walking for babies. Christie Nicholson reports
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Images of Thin Bodies Impact Body Preferences from 2013-01-15T00:00:08
A recent study shows that images of thin women do in fact alter women's body preferences. Christie Nicholson reports
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Dan Ariely Talks Creativity and Dishonesty from 2012-12-29T21:34:08
Dan Ariely is a professor of behavior economics at Duke University. His latest book, The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty, explains how creativity makes us better liars--even to ourselves
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Natural Setting and Tech Break Boost Creativity from 2012-12-22T07:00:08
Volunteers who spent at least four days hiking with no communications or computing technology scored higher on creativity tests upon their return than did a control group. Rose Eveleth reports
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When Old Habits Die Easy from 2012-11-25T00:00:08
New research finds a way to break an embedded habit, even a bad habit, at least for mice. Christie Nicholson reports
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Rats' Whiskers Inspire New Way to See from 2012-11-14T00:00:08
Blindfolded subjects were able to successfully use a plastic version of a rat's whisker to help them detect objects. Christie Nicholson reports
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Cash Rewards Might Make Us Unhappy from 2012-10-29T00:00:08
A recent study finds that when we can easily quantify a good we tend to be less happy with it, as opposed to those goods that are less easily quantifiable. Christie Nicholson reports
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How We Process Horrible Sounds from 2012-10-26T00:00:08
Researchers develop a model for how we find certain sounds, like nails on a chalkboard, unbearable. Christie Nicholson reports
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Helping Your Child Delay Gratification from 2012-10-15T00:00:08
A recent twist on the famous "marshmallow test" for children finds that environment and experience play a big role in a child's ability to resist temptation. Christie Nicholson reports
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The Difference between Honesty and Cheating from 2012-09-23T00:00:08
A recent study finds that where we sign a document can influence our tendency to be honest or cheat. Christie Nicholson reports
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When the Bride Has Doubt from 2012-09-16T16:00:08
New research finds that prenuptial doubt predicts marital separation, especially when that doubt comes from the bride. Christie Nicholson reports
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Fear Makes Art More Engaging from 2012-09-12T00:00:08
A recent study finds that when people are stimulated by fear, they tend to be more engaged with art. Christie Nicholson reports
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Why You Choose the Brands You Do from 2012-08-26T15:00:08
A recent study finds that we might often choose brands and products for reasons that have nothing to do with the actual brand or product. Christie Nicholson reports
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Attitudes toward Sex Are Changing from 2012-08-19T00:00:08
A new survey of college students finds that attitudes toward gender and promiscuity are changing. Christie Nicholson reports
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Hoarders Have Their Own Category of Disorder from 2012-08-13T00:00:08
A recent study finds evidence for why hoarders might be considered separate from those suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Christie Nicholson reports
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Some Multitasking Is More Taxing from 2012-07-28T09:00:08
Recent research finds that different forms of multitasking can impact our performance much more than others. Christie Nicholson reports
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Attraction between Friends of Opposite Sexes from 2012-07-22T00:00:08
A recent survey finds considerable differences in how men and women view attraction between male and female friends
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Our Friends' Weight Influences Our Weight Gain and Loss from 2012-07-15T00:00:08
Research finds that who we socialize with can influence our eating behavior. Christie Nicholson reports
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Confusion Helps Us Learn from 2012-06-25T00:00:08
It may be a good thing to be confused during the learning process. Christie Nicholson reports
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America Needs to Study Fractions from 2012-06-16T00:00:08
Recent research finds that a solid grade school knowledge of fractions and long-form division accurately predicts later success in high school math. Christie Nicholson reports
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Watching Shot Can Boost Pain from 2012-05-26T05:00:08
Subjects who watched a hand being pricked by a needle while they received a gentle electric shock felt more pain than others who watched gentler material. Rose Eveleth reports
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Meat-Eating Is Viewed as More of a Man's Game from 2012-05-21T00:00:08
A recent study finds that we tend to view meat consumption as being more masculine than vegetarianism. Christie Nicholson reports
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When Pro-Vaccine Messaging Backfires from 2012-05-13T00:00:08
A recent study shows that strong pro-vaccine messaging might have an unintended impact. Christie Nicholson reports
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Keeping Secrets Weighs You Down, Literally from 2012-04-29T00:00:08
New research finds that keeping a secret can make you feel as if you are physically burdened. Christie Nicholson reports
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If We Feel Too Busy, It's Probably Due to Having Too Much Free Time from 2012-04-22T10:00:08
A forthcoming study finds that keeping busy with selfless tasks greatly expands our perception of how much time we have. Christie Nicholson reports
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Men Who Hold a Gun Appear Taller and Stronger from 2012-04-14T14:00:08
Research finds that men are perceived to be strong and large if they are carrying a deadly weapon. Christie Nicholson reports
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Ability to Learn Is Affected by the Timing of Sleep from 2012-03-24T12:00:08
Researchers find that how soon we sleep after learning new information impacts how well we retain it. Christie Nicholson reports
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Mind Wandering Is Linked to Your Working Memory from 2012-03-17T12:00:08
A new study has found a strong correlation between how much your mind wanders and your working memory capacity. Christie Nicholson reports
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How to Gain Self-Control from 2012-03-10T16:00:08
New research finds a relatively simple method to increase your capacity for self-control. Christie Nicholson reports
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Dehydration Affects Women's Moods from 2012-02-25T18:00:08
Two recent studies find that dehydration not only affects your body but your mood as well. Christie Nicholson reports
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Why Online Dating Doesn't Work from 2012-02-18T11:00:08
A team of psychologists reviewed online dating sites and their conclusions are not promising. Christie Nicholson reports
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If Time Is Money, Then Free Time Is Frustrating from 2012-02-11T10:00:08
If we think of time as money, we might be undermining our ability to enjoy free time. Christie Nicholson reports
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How the Itch Informs the Scratch from 2012-01-28T16:00:08
Research finds that where the itch begins says a lot about how bad it is--and how pleasurable the scratch. Christie Nicholson reports
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Lack of Sleep Might Make You Feel Hungrier from 2012-01-22T00:00:08
Extreme lack of sleep might make one more susceptible to food imagery, making us feel hungrier than we actually are. Christie Nicholson reports
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Men Spend the Big Bucks When Women Are Scarce from 2012-01-14T11:00:08
A recent study finds that when men perceive that there are few women, they'll spend more money. Christie Nicholson reports
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The Elderly React Slowly Because They Want to Be Right from 2011-12-31T12:00:08
Recent studies have found that the elderly may respond more slowly to specific tasks, but not because their cognitive skills are slower. Christie Nicholson reports
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Toddlers Don't Monitor Their Own Speech from 2011-12-24T11:00:08
Adults and children hear their own voice and use it as feedback to monitor their speech, but it seems that young toddlers do not. Christie Nicholson reports
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A Quirk of Speech May Become a New Vocal Style from 2011-12-17T12:00:08
What used to be thought of as a symptom of a speech disorder might now be a hot trend in vocal style among rock stars and young women. Christie Nicholson reports
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Individuals Are Removed from Blame When in Groups from 2011-12-11T00:00:08
A recent study has found that we do not tend to hold individual members of a group responsible for their individual actions. Christie Nicholson reports
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Dreams Help Soothe Your Bad Memories from 2011-11-28T18:00:08
Research finds that dreams may help consolidate and soothe troubled memories and experiences. Christie Nicholson reports
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Protein Might Ward Off Afternoon Snooze from 2011-11-19T11:39:08
Glucose can block brain cell secretion of orexin, which keeps us alert. But amino acids can stop that block. Christie Nicholson reports
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How We View Half-Naked Men and Women from 2011-11-13T00:00:08
Research finds that scantily-clad women and men are judged in similar ways. Christie Nicholson reports
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Be Afraid, but Not Too Afraid from 2011-10-31T11:00:08
Halloween reminds us that we love to be scared. But too much of anything is not good. Christie Nicholson reports
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Are Men Funnier Than Women? from 2011-10-24T00:00:08
A new study finds that the humor gap between the sexes is more stereotype than reality. Christie Nicholson reports
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Body Language Improves Our Communication from 2011-10-19T16:00:08
Recent research finds that body language significantly improves how well we are understood by our audience. Christie Nicholson reports
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Speech Disorders May Be Helped Using Rhythm and Familiar Words from 2011-09-29T00:00:08
Singing therapy is often used to restore fluency to sufferers of speech disorders due to stroke. Recent research found, however, it may not be the singing itself that helps. Christie Nicholson reports
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Scientists Find a New Way to Measure Pain from 2011-09-20T00:00:08
Scientists have been searching for an accurate way to measure pain beyond a patient's self-report, but to no avail. A recent study might have found one possible solution. Christie Nicholson reports
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Musicians Maintain Hearing Better from 2011-09-13T20:14:08
A hearing study of experienced musicians found they had a better chance than non-musicians of avoiding the hearing loss associated with aging. Christie Nicholson reports
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Ability for Mathematics May Be Inborn from 2011-08-21T00:00:08
Children who have a good sense of numbers also tend to have a talent for arithmetic, even before formal training. Christie Nicholson reports
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Spoiling the Ending Makes for a Better Story from 2011-08-14T00:00:08
Research has found that giving away the best part of a story at the beginning actually makes it more enjoyable. Christie Nicholson reports
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Panic Attack Sufferers Are Unaware of Symptoms from 2011-07-30T11:00:08
Panic attacks seem to come out of nowhere, but research finds symptoms appear up to one hour before the sufferer is aware of the attack. Christie Nicholson reports
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Compulsive Gamblers Combine Impulsiveness with Irrationality from 2011-07-17T13:33:08
Compulsive gamblers seeking treatment were more impulsive and more likely to be superstitious than were non-gamblers. Steve Mirsky reports
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Paying in Cash Keeps Us Healthy from 2011-06-25T09:00:08
Recent research finds that our vices can be held back when we use cash instead of credit cards at the grocery store. Christie Nicholson reports
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Small Study: Young Gang Members Want Dogs Mostly for Companionship from 2011-06-18T04:00:08
A study of 25 young gang and group members in South Wales found that they wanted dogs less as weapons or protection and mostly for companionship and socialization. Steve Mirsky reports
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Inattentional Blindness Can Make You Not Perceive Events from 2011-06-11T14:00:08
Research finds that a cop who testified that he ran past a beating without seeing it could be telling the truth. Christie Nicholson reports
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The Blind Use the Visual Cortex to Process Sound from 2011-05-28T10:00:08
Recent research has confirmed that in blind subjects who use echolocation to navigate, it is the visual part of the brain that processes the auditory echoes. Christie Nicholson reports
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Rude People Can Be Perceived as Powerful from 2011-05-22T10:00:08
Powerful people often bend the rules, so if someone is a rule-breaker could they be perceived as powerful? Christie Nicholson reports
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How to Speak Persuasively from 2011-05-14T17:16:08
Discover how to successfully persuade others with these findings from a recent study on speech. Christie Nicholson reports
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First Impressions Can Be Quite Accurate from 2011-04-30T12:00:08
A study about the perception of neighborhoods reveals that our gut instinct based on the physical features of the neighborhood is highly accurate. Christie Nicholson reports
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Reading the Mind to Restore Speech from 2011-04-25T00:00:08
By just thinking about, or saying, certain words, people can control a computer cursor. Christie Nicholson reports
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Our Uhs and Ums May Help Children Learn Language from 2011-04-17T13:00:08
We think we should remove any ums and uhs when we talk, especially when teaching children language. New research finds that such pauses may be useful. Christie Nicholson reports
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Yawns Are Contagious When You're with Friends from 2011-04-10T00:00:08
Research with chimpanzees finds that chimps yawn more around other yawning chimps from their own community than with those from a separate community. Christie Nicholson reports
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First Sex Alters Body Image from 2011-03-27T10:00:08
A recent assessment of undergrads reveals a gender difference in how the students see their bodies after their first sexual intercourse. Christie Nicholson reports
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Self-Restraint Leads Us to Prefer Aggression from 2011-03-20T10:00:08
Research shows that when we practice self-restraint, we also tend to prefer aggressive messaging and movies. Christie Nicholson reports
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Right-Handers Tend to Prefer the Right Side from 2011-03-13T00:00:08
Recent research in the journal Psychological Science found that righties tend to prefer the right side of anything (spatially speaking) and lefties the left. Christie Nicholson reports
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Social Context Influences Language from 2011-02-27T00:00:08
A recent study with teenage male songbirds finds that they can suddenly have a surge of tweeting talent when they are placed in the presence of a female bird. Christie Nicholson reports
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Early Attachment May Affect Our Ability to Resolve Conflict in Relationships from 2011-02-22T00:00:08
Recent research in the journal Psychological Science reveals that infant attachment styles might influence our ability to recover from fights with our romantic partners. Christie Nicholson reports
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Look to Lessen Acute Pain from 2011-02-14T12:47:08
Volunteers could endure an uncomfortable stimulus longer when they looked at the affected body part, and even longer if the part appeared enlarged
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Babies Think Large Means Dominant from 2011-01-30T12:00:08
Recent research shows that even infants have a bias to think that big means alpha. Christie Nicholson reports
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Meditation Correlated with Structural Changes in the Brain from 2011-01-22T11:00:08
A study published this week finds that an eight-week meditation course leads to structural changes in the brain. Christie Nicholson reports
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Play Up That Ugly Trait from 2011-01-16T09:00:08
Data analysis from the popular online dating site OkCupid finds that the women who get the most attention from men are rated by many men as unattractive. Christie Nicholson reports
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The Strongest Predictor for Low Stress from 2010-12-25T11:00:08
Research from wild baboons provides insight into perhaps the best way to combat daily, psychological stress. During this holiday season it might bring some comfort. Christie Nicholson reports
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More Money Doesn't Mean More Happiness from 2010-12-19T00:00:08
Richard Easterlin wrote a paper back in the 1970s showing that increased income doesn't correlate with increased happiness. Last week he published an update on that paper. Christie Nicholson reports
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What Makes an Honest Smile Honest? from 2010-12-11T18:00:08
What is the telltale clue to a genuine smile? Recent research finds positive correlations with this honest show of emotion. Christie Nicholson reports
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Brain Imaging Studies Show Different Cultures Have Different Brains from 2010-11-27T16:00:08
The emerging field of cultural neuroscience reveals fascinating differences in brain function between cultures and environments. Christie Nicholson reports
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Fear-Based Messaging May Influence Skepticism of Global Warming from 2010-11-20T15:00:08
A study proposes that fear-based messaging about an issue like global warming may encourage the audience to dismiss it. Christie Nicholson reports
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Who Teens Blame for Bullying from 2010-11-13T13:00:08
A recent Swedish study finds that teenagers put most of the blame for bullying behavior on the bully or the victim, and not on their peers or the school environment. Christie Nicholson reports
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Beware of Brain Differences in the Sexes from 2010-10-30T00:00:08
A recent review advises us to beware of the gender differences found in brain-imaging studies. Christie Nicholson reports
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Generosity Might Keep Us Healthy from 2010-10-23T18:00:08
Psychologist Liz Dunn spoke with us from the PopTech conference in Camden, Maine, about the link between greed and long-term health. Christie Nicholson reports
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Adversity Is Linked to Life Satisfaction from 2010-10-16T12:00:08
A certain amount of negative life events is correlated with an overall sense of life satisfaction and happiness. Christie Nicholson reports
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Women Apologize More Frequently Than Men Do from 2010-09-25T15:00:08
Research confirms that women tend to apologize much more frequently than men do, but there's a curious twist as to why this is the case. Christie Nicholson reports
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We Only Trust Experts If They Agree with Us from 2010-09-18T10:00:08
We only consider scientists to be experts when their argument is in line with our own previously held beliefs. Christie Nicholson reports
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Mind-Reading Tools Go Commercial from 2010-09-12T09:00:08
The tools used by the commercial industry to detect our thoughts and brain states are very different, and somewhat limited, compared with those used in the research lab. Christie Nicholson reports
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Generation X Loyaler to Religion Than Previous Generation from 2010-08-28T09:00:08
A recent survey analysis reveals that gen-Xers are more likely than baby boomers to remain loyal to religion. Christie Nicholson reports
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Poor Linguistic Ability May Indicate Risk of Alzheimer's from 2010-08-22T09:00:08
A series of longitudinal studies done with nuns out of the University of Kentucky shows a significant relationship between linguistic ability early in life and the development of Alzheimer's later ...
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Your Opinion of Climate Change Depends on Your Social Psychology from 2010-08-14T09:00:08
In a public lecture at the Banff Center for the Arts, science journalist Jay Ingram argues that climate change controversies have little to do with facts and findings. Christie Nicholson reports
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Busting the Myth That Opposites Attract from 2010-07-31T12:00:08
When it comes to love, we're ambivalent about "opposites attract". Christie Nicholson reports
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The Impact of Rude Behavior on a Business from 2010-07-24T10:00:08
New research shows that rudeness between employees can have a far worse impact on a business than rudeness directed toward customers, or even employee incompetence. Christie Nicholson reports
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Large-Brained Mammals Live Longer from 2010-07-18T10:00:08
A new study published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology finds that mammals with larger brains tend to have longer life spans. Christie Nicholson reports
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Bully or Victim? More Similar Than We Might Think from 2010-07-10T09:00:08
A new analysis reveals that bullies and victims share more similarities than we might think, with one stand-out difference. Christie Nicholson reports
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The Real Concern When Couples Fight from 2010-06-26T09:00:08
New research reveals that nearly all fights between romantic partners can be distilled into two fundamental complaints. Christie Nicholson reports
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How We Fool Ourselves Over and Over from 2010-06-19T09:00:08
In a new book "The Invisible Gorilla and Other Ways Our Intuitions Deceive Us," authors Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons show how little we know about our own knowledge. Christie Nicholson rep...
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The Staying Power of Alcoholics Anonymous from 2010-06-12T09:00:08
Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Alcoholics Anonymous continues to lead addicts to sobriety as long as they stick with it for the long haul. Christie Nicholson reports
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College Students Are Less Empathic Than Generations Past from 2010-05-29T09:00:08
Research presented at the conference of the Association for Psychological Science found that today's college students are far less empathic than their counterparts 30 years ago. Christie Nicholson ...
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Soil Bacteria Might Increase Learning from 2010-05-24T19:00:08
Research presented this week shows that exposure to a specific bacteria found in soil increases learning in mice. Christie Nicholson reports
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Digging Deeper into the Entire Brain from 2010-05-16T16:00:08
A recent paper in the journal Nature finally brings some vindication to fMRI, one of the most popular methods used to study the brain. Christie Nicholson reports
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Facial Expressions of Mice in Pain from 2010-05-12T16:00:08
Recent research has found that mice make humanlike facial expressions when they are in pain. Christie Nicholson reports
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Auditory Illusions from 2010-04-25T18:00:08
Two classic auditory illusions. Try them out! Christie Nicholson reports
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Making a Decision? Take Your Time from 2010-04-17T09:00:08
A recent study shows that when faced with a decision, it's best to take some time--relax and cool off--so logical thinking can guide us to the best choice. Christie Nicholson reports
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Using Light to Control the Brain from 2010-04-12T00:00:08
A new approach to manipulating the brain with light is gaining increasing attention. Christie Nicholson reports
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Manipulating Moral Judgment from 2010-03-29T15:00:08
Scientists find that when the area of the brain responsible for understanding the intent of others is disrupted, moral judgment is also affected. Christie Nicholson reports
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Chronic Pain Relief from 2010-03-21T13:00:08
Chronic pain may be due to an overabundance of a protein, which amplifies the pain signal to the brain. A drug that neutralizes this protein may provide the long-awaited relief. Christie Nicholson ...
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Humans Want to Share Information from 2010-03-15T11:00:08
Speaking at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Tex., new media scholar Clay Shirky argues that businesses are buckling under the pressure of the digital revolution because of a subtle qui...
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Why Does Schizophrenia Appear in Young Adults? from 2010-02-27T17:00:08
Recent research explores the effects of a schizophrenia risk factor ( DISC1 ) and its influence over the onset of the disease. Christie Nicholson reports
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Fighting Crime with Math from 2010-02-20T18:00:08
Scientists at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science presented a mathematical model to predict criminal behavior and police success. Christie Nicholson reports
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Catching the Brain at Work from 2010-02-10T12:00:08
Scientists found a way to detect the order of activity in two regions of the brain using fMRI. And they found that the brain can register something as highly emotional before it actually processes ...
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Sex Differences in Jealousy from 2010-01-28T10:00:08
Recent research attempts to provide a more nuanced look at the long-held view that men are more jealous of sexual infidelity than emotional infidelity. Christie Nicholson reports
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The Talent for Facial Recognition from 2010-01-21T00:00:08
Recent research in Current Biology finds that the ability to recognize faces is most likely heritable. Christie Nicholson reports
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Making and Keeping Your Goals from 2010-01-13T12:00:08
An interview with David Allen, best-selling author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, on how to make and keep goals. Christie Nicholson reports
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Powerful and Bad in 2009 from 2009-12-31T12:00:08
Recent research finds that a feeling of entitlement to power can inspire hypocrisy. Christie Nicholson reports
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Remembering That Person's Name from 2009-12-22T20:00:08
Recent research finds that we all have a tough time remembering names as we age. But for those with early Alzheimer's the decline is significant and includes forgetting biographical information, as...
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Our Bodies, Our Culture from 2009-12-15T19:00:08
How we understand the location of our own body in space is culturally dependent. Christie Nicholson reports
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Are Your Siblings Really Your Siblings? from 2009-11-24T18:00:08
This Thanksgiving how can we be certain we're sitting down with our genetically related family? Evolutionary psychology provides some food for thought. Christie Nicholson reports
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The Roots of Language from 2009-11-17T00:00:08
Recent research with chimps provides support for theories of how language evolved in humans. Christie Nicholson reports
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Boost Your Creativity with Eye Movement from 2009-11-10T18:00:08
Recent research published in the journal Brain and Cognition finds that people can boost the number and quality of their original ideas when they increase the interaction between the brain's right ...
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A Pretty Face or a Hot Body? from 2009-10-27T11:00:08
When pursuing a mate for a short-term relationship, are we more interested in the face or the body? How about for a long-term relationship? Christie Nicholson reports
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What Our Stuff Says about Us from 2009-10-20T17:00:08
Psychologist Sam Gosling from the University of Texas reveals what we can predict about personalities by just looking at their stuff. Christie Nicholson reports
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It's Funny Because It's True from 2009-10-13T13:00:08
New research proves that the things we find funny often reveal somewhat hidden beliefs we hold. Christie Nicholson reports
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Internet Addiction? from 2009-09-29T13:30:08
As experts organize the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a debate has started on whether to include Internet addiction among our newest afflictions
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Is Texting Making Us Bad Spellers? from 2009-09-23T00:00:08
A recent study finds SMS texting is not impacting young people's ability to spell. Christie Nicholson reports
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Detecting Digitally Altered Video from 2009-09-16T00:00:08
A study in Applied Cognitive Science finds that we're likely to believe a doctored video over own memories of an event. Christie Nicholson reports
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Predictors of Preschool Depression from 2009-08-31T00:00:08
A five-year study followed more than 1,700 children and found that depression in preschoolers is primarily predicted by two factors. Christie Nicholson reports
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In Defense of Evolutionary Psychology from 2009-08-26T02:00:08
Lisa DeBruine of the University of Aberdeen proposes that the value of evolutionary psychology lies in its ability to inspire new questions about human behavior. Christie Nicholson reports
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Human-Robot Relationships from 2009-08-18T00:00:08
How will human-robot interaction affect our culture? A psychologist and artificial intelligence researcher share their predictions. Christie Nicholson reports
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Artificial Intelligence Predicts Gambling Behavior from 2009-07-21T11:00:08
A simulated neural network is able to predict the bets and wins/losses of gamblers. Christie Nicholson reports
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Questioning Evolutionary Psychology from 2009-07-17T18:00:08
Recently, the doubts and questions plaguing the theory of evolutionary psychology have boiled up to the mainstream press. Christie Nicholson reports
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Increase Your Creativity: Live Abroad from 2009-06-14T00:00:08
Recent research shows that people who have lived in a foreign country are more creative when it comes to solving problems. Christie Nicholson reports
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Obama's Message to Graduates from 2009-05-18T10:00:08
President Obama's message to Arizona State University grads matches new research on how to live a fulfilled and happy life. Christie Nicholson reports
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Why Dating Doesn't Predict Marital Success from 2009-04-27T09:00:08
Scientists confirm what may seem obvious to some: what satisfies us in dating, does not predict how happy we'll be in marriage. Christie Nicholson reports
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When Do Dreams Begin? from 2009-04-16T10:00:08
Recent research from the American Institute of Physics has found that the our dreaming sleep begins much earlier than previously thought. Christie Nicholson reports
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Why Cops Make Fatal Errors from 2009-03-31T00:00:08
New research suggests that a police officer's ability to multitask influences the number of wrongful shootings. Christie Nicholson reports
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Sylvia Plath's Son and Suicide in Families from 2009-03-24T09:00:08
The recent suicide of Sylvia Plath's son, Nicholas Hughes, makes us question whether suicidal tendency runs in families. But the science remains complex. Christie Nicholson reports
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Wiping Out Bad Memories from 2009-03-18T11:00:08
Research published in the journal Science last week shows the successful obliteration of a specific memory in mice. Christie Nicholson reports
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Where Is God? from 2009-03-11T00:00:08
Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA provides support to the critics of the idea that a God spot exists in the brain. Christie Nicholson reports
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Thinking of Human as Machine from 2009-02-24T00:00:08
It will be a long time before machines can be "more human than human," as scientists are just starting to decode what happens inside our brains as we recognize a spoken word. Christie Nicholson rep...
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Women as Sex Objects from 2009-02-17T03:05:08
A new study presented at the recent American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago shows that when men see photos of scantily clad women their brain registers the women as o...
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When an Innocent Confesses to a Crime from 2009-01-27T08:00:08
New research shows the persuasive power of a false confession. It seems the confession itself can corrupt other evidence that may excuse a defendant. Christie Nicholson reports
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Surviving a Plane Crash from 2009-01-20T00:00:08
We might think near-death experiences leave survivors, such as those on US Airways Flight 1549, forever suffering from post-traumatic stress and fear, but research concludes otherwise. Christie Nic...
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The Persistence of Racism from 2009-01-12T16:00:08
Recent research concludes that although people predict they will react negatively to racial slurs, their behavior proves otherwise. Christie Nicholson reports
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Great Expectations for 2009 from 2008-12-30T02:00:08
Multiple experiments by Duke University professor Dan Ariely reveal how our expectations hugely influence our decisions, and ultimately, our experiences. Christie Nicholson reports
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Beware the Holiday Sugar High from 2008-12-22T06:00:08
Recent research concludes that parents significantly overestimate how sugar affects their children's hyperactive behavior. Susannah F. Locke reports.
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Gift-Giving for Lovers from 2008-12-15T00:00:08
Research suggests that women don't seem to mind if they receive the less-than-perfect gift. Men, on the other hand, are a different story. Susannah F. Locke reports
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Eat, Exercise and Be Merry from 2008-11-24T12:50:08
Research shows that people who write down what they are grateful for may exercise more. Rachel Mahan reports
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Beating Loneliness at Its Own Game from 2008-11-17T00:00:08
Researchers have found that indulging in feelings of nostalgia curiously combat the sad feelings that accompany loneliness. Christie Nicholson reports
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A Bitter Placebo to Swallow from 2008-11-10T17:50:08
Research shows that the items surrounding a successful medical treatment, like the type of drink we use to wash down a pill, can sometimes be as effective as the pill itself. Christie Nicholson rep...
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The Real Monsters on Halloween from 2008-10-27T00:00:08
A study shows that young children have a tough time knowing if monsters are real or pretend. Christie Nicholson reports.
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Restoring Movement in Paralyzed Limbs from 2008-10-20T12:40:08
A study published in Nature shows how an artificial connection restores movement in paralyzed limbs. Christie Nicholson reports
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Cell Phones Sometimes Cause Real Pain from 2008-10-13T10:30:08
People increasingly complain of being "electrosensitive," claiming that the electromagnetic fields emitted from mobile phones cause them real pain. Christie Nicholson reports
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Business, Lies and E-mail from 2008-09-29T11:00:08
New research finds that business students lie more often in e-mail than when communicating using pen and paper. Christie Nicholson reports
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Exposed Untruths Continue to Shape Voter Impressions from 2008-09-22T00:00:08
Misinformation on the campaign trail, once disseminated, is hard to undo--especially when it reinforces one's preconceptions. Christie Nicholson reports
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Spooky Science: Does a Fear of Ghosts Help Keep Us Honest? from 2008-09-15T00:00:08
Does the fear of "someone watching" help put us on the straight and narrow path?
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Hotel Guests Throw in the Towel on the Environment from 2008-08-25T00:00:08
When it comes to using towels in hotels, it's herd mentality, not eco-principles, that leads patrons on a greener path. Christie Nicholson reports
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For Online Consumption, the Web Is All About Cool from 2008-08-18T16:29:08
Back in 2006 the concept of the "long tail" stated that the Web will turn consumers into lovers of niche products and services, and that the days of the blockbuster are over. But the data tell a di...
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Olympic Gold Medal: Is the Body Language of Triumph (or Defeat) Biological? from 2008-08-11T18:00:08
A study published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA concludes that our reaction to Olympic victory is innate. Christie Nicholson reports
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A study shows prescription OD accidents are on the rise from 2008-07-28T16:00:08
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine shows that fatal medicinal mistakes at home rose substantially in two decades. Christie Nicholson reports
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A Whiff of Disaster, Dulled by Dopamine from 2008-07-21T00:00:08
Research published in Nature Neuroscience uncovers a remarkable mechanism a female mouse uses to save her babies from dangerous miscarriage.
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Dicey Proposition: Animals Are Self-Aware from 2008-07-14T00:00:08
Researchers continue to search for a way inside the mind of an animal. One promising study looked at monkeys that make bets
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When Craving Is Better Than Getting from 2008-06-30T00:00:08
A study published in Nature Neuroscience shows that our own calming thoughts can significantly dampen the arousal we feel when we are anticipating positive rewards. Christie Nicholson reports.
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Why Are Conservatives Happier Than Liberals? from 2008-06-24T00:00:08
Conservatives have greater subjective life satisfaction than liberals, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Two New York University researchers performed three studies to find out why. Christ...
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Of Two Minds, One Consciousness from 2008-06-16T00:00:08
Studies of split-brain patients provide insight into how we form thoughts--specifically how the left brain will create its own narrative based on information it never received. Christie Nicholson r...
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Is Civilization the Result of Humans' Need to Share? from 2008-05-27T00:00:08
A 2007 study published in Science shows that young human children perform as well as apes on intelligence tests, but that kids beat apes in social skills. The lead researcher explains why this diff...
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Our Cars, Ourselves from 2008-05-19T00:00:08
Increasingly, GPS and voice-activated systems in cars are turning a fairly private place into an open vessel for our habits--and as such, a possible boon for advertisers. But they are also becoming...
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You Say "Ga," I say "Ba," but Everyone Hears "Da" from 2008-05-12T17:45:08
A fascinating auditory illusion proves that the visual cue of moving lips plays an important role in accurately hearing what people say.
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In Negotiations, If You Feel Your Opponents' Pain, It May Be Their Gain from 2008-04-28T12:00:08
Crucial in any successful negotiation is an accurate understanding of each side's motivations and needs.
And although understanding another's needs involves the talent to empathize, research f...
Stock Market Winners Get Big Payoff--In Testosterone from 2008-04-21T12:00:08
A study of male traders in London reveals an interesting correlation between testosterone levels and success on the trading floor.
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World Wide Suicide: A Self-Termination Community Grows on the Web from 2008-04-14T10:00:08
An investigation published in the 'British Medical Journal' reveals that Web searches for information on suicide will likely result in links to pro-suicide sites, which often encourage and facilita...
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Learn to Be Kind from 2008-03-28T00:00:08
New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison finds that we can acquire a greater capacity for compassion through meditation training, in much the same way as athletes or musicians train to...
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Mind the Alzheimer's Switch from 2008-03-14T00:00:08
Neuroscientists recently made a startling discovery--young brains may experience memory loss due to the same mechanism responsible for Alzheimer's.
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Debunking Animal Autism from 2008-02-22T00:00:08
Animal behaviorist Temple Grandin believes extraordinary animals think much like autistic geniuses. Now, some neuroscientists say it simply isn't true.
*This week's podcast guest hosted by Chr...
If You Like It, It Must Be Rare from 2008-02-15T00:00:08
A study out of the business school INSEAD reveals that we tend to invert the economic axiom of short supply leads to high demand, meaning that we also conclude (prematurely and often incorrectly) t...
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The "Me" Generation Isn't So "Me" from 2008-01-31T00:00:08
Contrary to the media hype that today's teens are more self-absorbed than generations past, Canadian researchers have found zero evidence for any increase in narcissism, which includes arrogance an...
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Lookin' Crazy in Love from 2008-01-24T00:00:08
Psychologist Steven Pinker describes why passionate infatuation, typically associated with unhealthy romantic behavior, may have real advantages for long term commitment.
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Bisexuality is a Distinct Sexual Orientation from 2008-01-17T00:00:08
Results from a 10-year study show that bisexuality in women is not a transitional phase enroute to lesbianism, but rather a distinct and long-term sexual orientation.
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You're so Psychic, Bet You Know This Podcast is About You from 2008-01-10T00:00:08
Two Harvard psychologists use neuroimaging to provide what some call the best evidence yet that extrasensory perception (or ESP) does not exist.
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Sibling Conflict Around the Holidays from 2007-12-20T00:00:08
As much as parents try to craft equal gifts for each child around the holidays, siblings still seem to fight over who got the better gift. New research reveals that parents may not always give fair...
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The Slow Down of Time in Crisis from 2007-12-13T00:00:08
Recent research from the Baylor College of Medicine tackles the fascinating experience we have of time slowing down during a terrifying event, like a car accident. Does our brain track time differe...
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See Your Doc to Stop Smoking from 2007-11-29T00:00:08
Two researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health published a review in the November 20th issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, of several hundred smoking studies. They c...
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When the Virtual You Changes the Real You from 2007-11-22T00:00:08
Imagine a future where a digital you is influencing the real you; where a communicating clone can convince us to alter our decisions and behavior. Research underway at Stanford University's Virtual...
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Laughing in the Face of Adversity from 2007-11-15T00:00:08
A poster presented at the Society of Neuroscience meeting reveals that empathy isn't always about matching anothers' emotion. Researchers found that sometimes instead of feeling anothers' pain, we ...
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Sexual Orientation Controlled in the Brains of Worms from 2007-10-25T00:00:08
Biologists are able to turn on a gene in the brain of nematode worms that leads them to desire same-sex partners.
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Clock Genes Might Control the Sleep We Need from 2007-10-18T00:00:08
Clock genes, long known to regulate our circadian rhythms, also give clues to what makes sleep so persistent.
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God in the Brain? from 2007-10-11T00:00:08
As neuroscientists search for brain circuits that lead to religious experiences, they're touching on some of our deepest questions - like, could religion be explained by a neural quirk? For more on...
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More Stress Means Less Eating from 2007-09-27T00:00:08
Recent studies on a hormone receptor in the brain called CRF2 brought new hope for a solution to obesity. But research in the Journal of Neuroscience cautions: while CRF2 cuts appetite, it also inc...
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Neurons for Good and Bad Surprises from 2007-09-20T00:00:08
A recent study with monkeys finds that the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain, has neurons that fire for good surprises, and different neurons that fire for bad surprises.
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Fetal Neurons Found in Adult Brain from 2007-09-13T00:00:08
Special cells that control the wiring of a fetus' brain were thought to die off shortly after birth. But scientists have found some of these pre-natal neurons surviving, and communicating, in the a...
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Going Under Hypnosis Before Going into Surgery from 2007-08-30T00:00:08
Turns out that hypnosis, once thought to be a hocus-pocus parlor trick, may now be considered a legitimate surgical tool
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Women Really do Prefer Pink from 2007-08-23T00:00:08
A study has shown that women are more attracted to reddish hues, than to greens, yellows and the universally-loved blues.
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