Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Losing sleep, losing brain?
Chronic and severely stressful situations, like those connected to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, have been associated with smaller volumes in "stress sensitive" brain regions, such as the cingulate region...
Chemical Exposure Linked to Attention Deficit Disorder in Children
Children exposed in the womb to chemicals in cosmetics and fragrances are more likely to develop behavioral problems commonly found in children with attention deficit disorders, according to...
Why Men and Women Get Jealous for Different Reasons
Men and women's feelings on infidelity are a matter of how they view relationships.
Monkeys keep their words short, just like us
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study has found that Formosan macaque monkeys prefer to keep their "words" short, using long vocalizations only occasionally.
Brain scientists extend map of fear memory formation
Draw a map of the brain when fear and anxiety are involved, and the amygdala looms large. But scientists have now extended the brain's fear map to include the prelimbic...
Music in speech equals empathy in heart?
Some people are annoyed by upspeak: the habit of making a sentence sound like a question? But actually, being able to change intonation in speech - as in upspeak -...
Babies' brains tuned to sharing attention with others
Children as young as five months old will follow the gaze of an adult towards an object and engage in joint attention, according to new research. The findings suggest that...
Design vs. Dyslexia: Innovation promises new hope for children with dyslexia
Researchers are designing a 21st century electronic toolkit to speed learning for children with dyslexia.
Is the Hobbit's brain unfeasibly small?
Homo floresiensis, a pygmy-sized small-brained hominin popularly known as 'the Hobbit' was discovered five years ago, but controversy continues over whether the small brain is actually due to a pathological...
Parents' perceptions of their child's competence linked to physical activity
According to a new study, there is no direct link between parents' own level of physical activity, and how much their child may exercise. In fact, parents' perceptions of their...
After 150, Facebook friends are meaningless
(PhysOrg.com) -- According to Oxford University's professor of evolutionary anthropology, Robin Dunbar, after you have amassed 150 friends on Facebook, any more are meaningless because the human brain can only...
Recognition of facial expressions is not universal
Caucasians and Asians don't examine faces in the same way, according to new research. PhD student Caroline Blais, of the Universite de Montreal Department of Psychology, has published two studies...
Aging mums may compromise
A long study has found that, while most women want babies at some point, the quantity tends to go down when age or career get in the way.
His or hers jealousy? Study offers new explanation for sex differences in jealousy
When South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was caught red-handed returning from a tryst with his Argentine mistress last June, he told the Associated Press that he had met his 'soul...
Cell Phones, Brain Cancer, Evidence
It's not hard to find scare stories about cell phones and brain cancer. On the other hand, numerous randomized, double-blind studies have debunked extreme claims of negative health effects of...
Lawrence Garfinkel, Dies at 88; Fought Smoking
Mr. Garfinkel, a student of statistics who learned epidemiology on the job, worked at the American Cancer Society for 43 years.
Los Angeles Marijuana Sellers Limited
The Los Angeles City Council voted to shutter roughly 80 percent of the city’s dispensaries and restrict their hours.
Men prefer less powerful women
The positioning of people's photos affects how attractive and powerful they seem to be.
Lawsuit rekindles gene-patent debate
Criticism of exclusive licences puts university policies in the spotlight.
UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News
NASA says Spirit will no longer be a rover … Study: Older may indeed be wiser … Spring ozone increases over North America … Study: Brain cancer has four subtypes...
'Medicalized' weapons, fair trade in biotechnology and more in the Hastings Center Report
(Garrison, NY) The latest issue of the Hastings Center Report features articles on "medicalized" weapons that temporarily incapacitate targets, sharing the benefits of newly found biological...
Taller football (soccer) players more likely to be accused of fouls, research indicates
In this World Cup year, when football (soccer) passions are running high, supporters might be forgiven for objecting to every decision to award a foul against their team, made by...
New Analysis Offers Theory on How to Breed Cannabis That's Better for You
There's a lot of misinformation blowing around out there concerning the medical benefits, and detriments, of smoking marijuana, but two UK researchers are making an argument for why you should perhaps pass on...
Study finds drop in age-related hearing problems
(AP) -- Sweet news for baby boomers: Despite all those warnings that loud rock music would damage their ears, their generation appears to have better hearing than their parents...
Increased on-site programming will benefit inmates' return to society
While re-entry and skill-building programs offered by the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) at its 11 prisons are heavily used and generally viewed favorably by inmates, many anticipate a...
Teachers Give No Child Left Behind Act Mixed Reviews
(PhysOrg.com) -- Highly accomplished teachers assessing the merits of the No Child Left Behind Act give the federal legislation a mixed report card, according to a study by University of...
New studies highlight needs of boys in K-12, higher education
Boys face high rates of a variety of mental health issues, in addition to lagging behind girls in academic performance and college attendance, according to two new papers by University...
Common antidepressant drugs linked to lactation difficulties in moms
According to a new study, women taking commonly used forms of antidepressant drugs may experience delayed lactation after giving birth and may need additional support to achieve their breastfeeding goals.