http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/psychology/ Psychology news. Read today's psychology research on relationships, happiness, memory, behavioral problems, dreams and more. Also, psychology studies comparing humans to apes. en-us Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:05:01 EST Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/psychology/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120211095351.htm Not surprisingly, victims of a natural disaster can experience stress and anxiety, but a new study indicates that it might also cause them to make more errors - some serious - in their daily lives. Researchers have explored how cognitive performance can decline after earthquakes and other natural disasters. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:53:53 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120211095351.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120211095051.htm People may think that online dating is only for the young, but individuals over the age of 60 are the fastest growing demographic in online dating. However, they may be looking for different qualities in their relationships than their younger counterparts. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:50:50 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120211095051.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210133245.htm A new study reproduced the same morphological and functional patterns of neuronal connections in a transgenic mouse as seen in people with Down’s syndrome. Regulating the activity of this protein produced very similar neuronal growth to that in a healthy mouse. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:32:32 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210133245.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210105901.htm Authoritarian parents whose child-rearing style can be summed up as “it’s my way or the highway” are more likely to raise disrespectful, delinquent children who do not see them as legitimate authority figures than authoritative parents who listen to their children and gain their respect and trust, according to new research. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:59:59 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210105901.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172922.htm Underserved youth athletes report more life skill and character development when their coaches place greater emphasis on creating caring climates instead of focusing on competition, according to new research. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172922.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172818.htm The way people rate their health determines their probability of survival in the following decades. Researchers have demonstrated that for ratings ranging from "excellent," "good," "fair," and "poor" to "very poor," the risk of mortality increases steadily – independently of such known risk factors as smoking, low education levels or pre-existing diseases. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:28:28 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172818.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172627.htm Brain surgery is getting much easier for many patients. Neurosurgeons are using catheters rather than open surgery to repair aneurysms and other defects. Patients recover in a few days, with less chance of cognitive deficits. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172627.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172603.htm There will always be a wild, unpredictable quality to creativity and invention, says a cognitive psychology, because reaching an “Aha moment” means leaping tall mental obstacles. But he has developed a tookit for overcoming common roadblocks and improving problem-solving. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209172603.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209144005.htm Neuroscientists have made a dramatic breakthrough in their efforts to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. The use of a drug appears to quickly reverse the pathological, cognitive and memory deficits caused by the onset of Alzheimer's in mice. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:40:40 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209144005.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209135058.htm Young adults who easily engage in rewarding conversations with their partners are less likely to hold onto anger and stress and more likely to be satisfied with the relationship, according to new research. Researchers are also looking at factors that relate to positive dating relationships or problematic relationships. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:50:50 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209135058.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209131452.htm Researchers have found new evidence for the role of the brain in obesity. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:14:14 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209131452.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209102007.htm When you see a picture of a hand, how do you know whether it's a right or left hand? This "hand laterality" problem may seem obscure, but it reveals a lot about how the brain sorts out confusing perceptions. Now, a new study challenges the long-held consensus about how we solve this problem. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:20:20 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209102007.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209101839.htm UC Riverside biomedical scientists have identified a new link between a protein (beta-arrestin) and short-term memory that could open new doors for the therapeutic treatment of neurological disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease. They show that if beta-arrestin is removed from neurons, short-term memory loss is prevented. But beta-arrestin is also required for normal learning/memory. The researchers argue that a fine balance needs to be established, one that could be achieved by pharmaceutical drugs in the future. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:18:18 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209101839.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208180057.htm Ever gone to the movies and forgotten where you parked the car? New research may one day help you improve your memory. Neuroscientists have demonstrated that they can strengthen memory in human patients by stimulating a critical junction in the brain. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208180057.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208133037.htm A new study was designed to test whether Omega-3 fatty acids improve clinical symptoms, and help adolescents and young adults (ages 12 to 25) who are at elevated risk for severe psychiatric disorders function better in school, work and other social environments. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208133037.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132721.htm By harnessing quantum dots, researchers have developed a new and vastly more targeted way to stimulate neurons in the brain. Being able to switch neurons on and off and monitor how they communicate with one another is crucial for understanding -- and, ultimately, treating -- a host of brain disorders. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:27:27 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132721.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132709.htm People who are more physically active report greater levels of excitement and enthusiasm than people who are less physically active, according to researchers. People also are more likely to report feelings of excitement and enthusiasm on days when they are more physically active than usual. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:27:27 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132709.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132259.htm As they try to find the best reward among options, some people explore based on how uncertain they are about the outcome of the options. Those who employ that thought process, unlike people who use other strategies, uniquely harness the computational power of the rostrolateral prefrontal cortex, a new study finds. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:22:22 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132259.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132253.htm Synaptic plasticity -- the ability of the synaptic connections between the brain's neurons to change and modify over time -- has been shown to be a key to memory formation and the acquisition of new learning behaviors. Now researchers reveal that the neural circuits controlling hunger and eating behaviors are also controlled by plasticity. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:22:22 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132253.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207133454.htm People visit social networking sites such as Facebook for many reasons, including the positive emotional experience that people enjoy and want to repeat, according to a new article. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:34:34 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207133454.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207095535.htm There’s a dark side to puppy love. Teen dating: it’s a subject that causes many parents to shudder and shy away, but parents can use Valentine’s Day to start important conversations with their teens or pre-teens. There are ways to make dating and relationships safer for them – not just now but throughout their lives. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:55:55 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207095535.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206143948.htm Researchers have found a way to study how our brains assess the behavior -- and likely future actions -- of others during competitive social interactions. Their study is the first to use a computational approach to tease out differing patterns of brain activity during these interactions, the researchers report. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:39:39 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206143948.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206143817.htm A new study may explain why people can hold visual information in great detail in their working memory. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:38:38 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206143817.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206122632.htm The report card is in, and the online dating industry won't be putting this one on the fridge. A new scientific report concludes that although online dating offers users some very real benefits, it falls far short of its potential. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206122632.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206122456.htm Scientists have for the first time made finest details of nerve cells in the brain of a living mouse visible. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:24:24 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206122456.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206092628.htm A researcher believes studying people's ability to find their way around may help explain why loss of mental capacity occurs with age. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206092628.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206092555.htm Programs that support parents during their child’s early years hold promise for obesity prevention, according to a new study. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206092555.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206092552.htm Online dating has not only shed its stigma, it has surpassed all forms of matchmaking in the United States other than meeting through friends, according to a new analysis of research on the burgeoning relationship industry. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206092552.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203182623.htm New brain imaging research reveals that a region of the brain important for sensing texture through touch, the parietal operculum, is also activated when someone listens to a sentence with a textural metaphor. The same region is not activated when a similar sentence expressing the meaning of the metaphor is heard. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203182623.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203141507.htm People who suffer a traumatic experience often don't talk about it, and many forget it over time. But not talking about something doesn't always mean you'll forget it; if you try to force yourself not to think about white bears, soon you'll be imagining polar bears doing the polka. A group of psychological scientists explore the relationship between silence and memories. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:15:15 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203141507.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203141503.htm Placebos reduce pain by creating an expectation of relief. Distraction -- say, doing a puzzle -- relieves it by keeping the brain busy. But do they use the same brain processes? Neuromaging suggests they do. When applying a placebo, scientists see activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. That's the part of the brain that controls high-level cognitive functions like working memory and attention -- which is what you use to do that distracting puzzle. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:15:15 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203141503.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203101153.htm Understanding the human mind is the key to social robotics, and researchers describe what we can expect from this field in the future. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:11:11 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203101153.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203092031.htm When a patient afflicted with schizophrenia hears inner voices something is taking place inside the brain that prevents the individual from perceiving real voices. A simple electronic application may help the patient learn to shift focus. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:20:20 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203092031.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202201600.htm It can be difficult to distinguish between people with normal age-associated memory loss and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However people with aMCI are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and identification of these people would mean that they could begin treatment as early as possible. New research shows that specific questions, included as part of a questionnaire designed to help diagnose AD, are also able to discriminate between normal memory loss and aMCI. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:16:16 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202201600.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202151725.htm Researchers have found new evidence that confirms the significance of a protein that neuroscientists call tau to the development of Alzheimer's disease. While earlier studies have focused on tau's aggregation into twisted structures known as "neurofibrillary tangles," the new work emphasizes intermediary steps between single protein units and the much larger tangles – small assemblages of two, three, four or more proteins, which the investigators believe are the most toxic entities in Alzheimer's. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:17:17 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202151725.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202150823.htm Hormones shape our bodies, make us fertile, excite our most basic urges, and as scientists have known for years, they govern the behaviors that separate men from women. But how? Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:08:08 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202150823.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202093836.htm Men put on their best behavior when attractive ladies are close by. When the scenario is reversed however, the behavior of women remains the same. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:38:38 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202093836.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201181459.htm In theory, the social networking website Facebook could be great for people with low self-esteem. Sharing is important for improving friendships. But in practice, people with low self-esteem seem to behave counterproductively, bombarding their friends with negative tidbits about their lives and making themselves less likeable, according to a new study. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:14:14 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201181459.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201181453.htm What does being committed to your marriage really mean? A psychology professors answer this question in a new study based on their analysis of 172 married couples over the first 11 years of marriage. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:14:14 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201181453.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201173217.htm For decades, researchers have debated whether Alzheimer's disease starts independently in vulnerable brain regions at different times, or if it begins in one region and then spreads to neuroanatomically connected areas. A new study strongly supports the latter, demonstrating that abnormal tau protein, a key feature of the neurofibrillary tangles seen in the brains of those with Alzheimer's, propagates along linked brain circuits, "jumping" from neuron to neuron. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:32:32 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201173217.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201123937.htm Scientists have found that the capacity of the human brain to process and record information - and not economic constraints - may constitute the dominant limiting factor for the overall growth of globally stored information. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:39:39 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201123937.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201120736.htm There is definitely more than meets the eye where faces are concerned. Researchers are investigating the process of facial recognition, seeking to understand the complexity of what is actually taking place in the brain when one person looks at another. The studies target people who display an inability to recognize faces, a condition long known as prosopagnosia. The research is aimed at trying to understand the neural basis of the condition while also make inferences about what is going wrong in terms of information processing -- where in the stages that our brains go through to recognize a face is the system breaking down. A new paper details the most recent experimental results. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:07:07 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201120736.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201120734.htm Twitter users choose the microblogs they follow, but that doesn't mean they always like what they get. Researchers found that users say only a little more than a third of the tweets they receive are worthwhile. Other tweets are either so-so or, in one out of four cases, not worth reading at all. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:07:07 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201120734.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201105128.htm Among corporations involved in the 2006 stock-option backdating scandal, those implicated earlier were more likely to dismiss their top executives than those that surfaced later on, according to new research. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:51:51 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201105128.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201105124.htm New findings reveal a novel mechanism through which the brain may become more reluctant to function as we grow older. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:51:51 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201105124.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201104516.htm Experiments in brain-injured rats show that stem cells injected via the carotid artery travel directly to the brain, where they greatly enhance functional recovery. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:45:45 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201104516.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201092918.htm Scientists have found that a rare dyslexia-linked genetic variant of the ROBO1 gene decreases normal crossing of auditory pathways in the human brain. The results link, for the first time, a dyslexia-susceptibility gene to a specific sensory function of the human brain. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201092918.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201092721.htm Researchers reveal how pleasantness and emotional intensity affects memories. A woman's memory of an experience is less likely to be accurate than a man's if it was unpleasant and emotionally provocative, new research suggests. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:27:27 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201092721.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201092316.htm In an animal study, researchers found that decaffeinated coffee may improve glucose utilization in the brain, reducing the risk for Type 2 diabetes and the brain dysfunction associated with some neurological disorders. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:23:23 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201092316.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131210259.htm Testosterone makes us overvalue our own opinions at the expense of cooperation, new research has found. Higher levels of testosterone were associated with individuals behaving egocentrically. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:02:02 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131210259.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131175627.htm New research might help explain how a gene mutation found in some autistic individuals leads to difficulties in processing auditory cues and paying spatial attention to sound. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:56:56 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131175627.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131175158.htm Neuroscientists and surgeons have recorded electrical activity in the temporal lobe -- the seat of the auditory system -- to discover how the brain encodes sound. Their model allows them to predict what a person heard based solely on temporal lobe activity. If, as studies suggest, internal "imagined" conversations activate similar areas of the temporal lobe, it may be possible to hear the internal verbalizations of people who cannot talk because of paralysis or stroke. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:51:51 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131175158.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131121421.htm Holding information within one's memory for a short while is a seemingly simple and everyday task. We use our short-term memory when remembering a new telephone number if there is nothing to write at hand, or to find the beautiful dress inside the store that we were just admiring in the shopping window. Yet, despite the apparent simplicity of these actions, short-term memory is a complex cognitive act that entails the participation of multiple brain regions. However, whether and how different brain regions cooperate during memory has remained elusive. Researchers in Germany have now come closer to answering this question. They discovered that oscillations between different brain regions are crucial in visually remembering things over a short period of time. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:14:14 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131121421.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131093054.htm In the US alone, at least 500,000 people suffer from Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder that affects a person's ability to control his or her movement. New technology lets researchers observe the development of the brain cells responsible for the disease. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131093054.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131092420.htm For those with few social advantages, college is a prime pathway to financial stability, but it also unexpectedly lowers their odds of ever marrying, according to a new study. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:24:24 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131092420.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131092410.htm Research shows a storyline that really makes the viewer pay attention may score the highest. Marketing narratives are more likely to trigger a positive response when following the storyline requires some mental work. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:24:24 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120131092410.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130171905.htm Scientists have long believed that human speech is processed towards the back of the brain's cerebral cortex, behind auditory cortex where all sounds are received -- a place famously known as Wernicke's area. But, now, research that analyzed more than 100 imaging studies concludes that Wernicke's area is in the wrong location. The site newly identified is miles away in terms of brain architecture and function. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:19:19 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130171905.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130170147.htm School-age children whose mothers nurtured them early in life have brains with a larger hippocampus, a key structure important to learning, memory and response to stress. The new research, by child psychiatrists and neuroscientists, is the first to show that changes in this critical region of children’s brain anatomy are linked to a mother’s nurturing. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:01:01 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130170147.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130131511.htm A new brain imaging study suggests stress robustly activates areas of the brain associated with craving in cocaine-dependent women, while drug cues activate similar brain regions in cocaine-dependent men. The study suggests men and women with cocaine dependence might benefit more from different treatment options. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:15:15 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130131511.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130131155.htm Divorce at a younger age hurts people's health more than divorce later in life, according to a new study. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:11:11 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130131155.htm