Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Some 'ball lightning' reports may be hallucinations
Magnetic fields generated by real bolts could trigger visual effects in the brain
Suicide risk for seniors moving into residential homes
Whether by choice or necessity, more older adults are now living in residential homes. And while the residences themselves are designed to be appealing, the underlying reasons that precipitate moving...
Study: Postpartum depression affects fathers too
An analysis finds that 10% of men suffer serious depression at some point between a pregnant partner's first trimester and one year after childbirth. Stress and sleep deprivation can be...
Link Between Creativity and Mental Illness Revealed
The reason for the link between creativity and mental illness could lie in the way the brain is set up to respond to the brain chemical dopamine, a new study...
Have we met? Research finds 'missing social knowledge'
(PhysOrg.com) -- The face looks familiar but... Just as humans don't always know their neighbors, new research at the University of Michigan shows even the most social of animals don't...
Web- and phone-based counseling work well to quit smoking with Chantix
SEATTLE -- A randomized trial compared three ways to deliver a behavioral smoking cessation program using varenicline (Chantix®): by phone, Web, or both. Although phone counseling had greater treatment...
Preserving memory with age
If you lived longer, would you still remember everything? It depends. Two methods of extending life span have very different effects on memory performance and decline with age, researchers at...
Computer technique could help partially sighted 'see' better
Thousands of people who are partially-sighted following stroke or brain injury could gain greater independence from a simple, cheap and accessible training course which could eventually be delivered from their...
Asking 'why' instead of 'how' helps consumers achieve goals of saving money or losing weight
People who become focused on how to achieve a goal may have a harder time achieving their aims than people who think abstractly about why they want to do something,...
Older Chinese consumers perceive themselves younger than actual age
Since the Chinese government enacted the one-child policy in 1978 as a form of population control, the average age of Chinese citizens has begun to get older quickly. After recognising...
Receptor variant influences dopamine response to alcohol
A genetic variant of a receptor in the brain's reward circuitry plays an important role in determining whether the neurotransmitter dopamine is released in the brain following alcohol intake, according...
New analysis reveals clearer picture of brain’s language areas
Language is a defining aspect of what makes us human. Although some brain regions are known to be associated with language, neuroscientists have had a surprisingly difficult time using brain...
Six men get ready for 520-day simulated Mars trip
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Six men from Russia, Europe and China are preparing to spend 520 days together in a sealed-off warren to take a simulated trip to Mars to test...
JAMA commentary: Time to rethink causes, possible treatments of mental disorders
It is time to reassess mental disorders, recognizing that these are disorders of brain circuits likely caused by development processes, according to a commentary in the May 19 issue of...
Knife-Wielding Robots Could Soon Invade the Kitchen
If robots are ever to handle "edgier" tasks, people will need to feel safe around domestic machines wielding sharp tools.
Good results of bad habits? U-M research explains paradox
ANN ARBOR, Mich.---When people are under chronic stress, they tend to smoke, drink, use drugs and overeat to help cope with stress. These behaviors trigger a biological cascade that helps...
Consumer confidence: When our choices makes the most sense
Why do we feel confident about some choices while we question others? According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, it's a combination of how easy the...
Brand attitudes: How companies can avoid the 'Tiger Woods' effect
When a company drafts a single celebrity to represent a brand, it can backfire -- in the way Tiger Woods' indiscretions affected Accenture. A new study in the Journal of...
Poll shows Republicans doing well in November as voting begins in three states
In what is being viewed as important straws in the political winds, three states hold key elections on Tuesday but the latest polling continues to show Republicans are in a...
Indiana Republican Rep. Mark Souder quits Congress over affair with staffer
Indiana Republican Rep. Mark Souder announced Tuesday he would resign from Congress, effective Friday, because he had an affair with a staffer.
2 Long Beach girls admit to intimidating witness in Wilson High classmate's slaying
Two Long Beach girls admitted that they attempted to intimidate a witness set to testify for prosecutors in the slaying of fellow Wilson High School student Melody Ross. Authorities said...
Parents wary, but few limit kids' internet use
Though the vast majority of Canadian parents are worried about just how much personal information their children share online, not that many are trying to curb it, suggests a new...
Why dogs with bad knees could help sport stars' fitness
Research into cruciate ligament problems in Newfoundland dogs will lead to comparison with human sufferersThey are strong, loyal and have sweet tempers – and they may also share some characteristics with golfer Tiger...
'Eureka!' Spot in the Brain Found
Eureka moments are reflected in the brain at a neural level. These "aha" moments form in the prefrontal cortex.
Ravens console each other after fights
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study investigating the behavior of ravens has found strong evidence that after conflicts bystanders appear to console and relieve the distress of victims with whom they...
Victory for Singh, again
My namesake's case is a timely reminder. Ken Clarke must honour that pledge to reform libel lawIf you followed the case in which the British Chiropractic Association sued me, then "Singh victory in...
Cooling off the hot button on immigration
Debate on Arizona law shows the need for dialogue that doesn't demonize desperate newcomers or rely on fears that somebody's abuela will be locked up by La...
Thai protest leaders accept offer of mediated talks
The government does not immediately comment on the offer from Thailand's Senate, but the move raises hopes of avoiding further bloodshed. At least 37 people have been killed. Hopes rose Tuesday for an...