Psychology News and Research

RSS

Psychology is the study of human mental functions, behavior and processes.

Having an alcoholic stepfather increases risk of behavior problems in girls more than boys

Living with an alcoholic stepfather is associated with a significantly higher risk of behavior problems in girls than boys, according to a new study by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University.

10 May 2004

Researchers fast track the commercial development of a simple and inexpensive screening test for Alzheimer’s disease

The computer-based system will undergo a major trial this year, with researchers able to create a commercially ready test thanks to a grant from the Telstra Broadband Fund.

10 May 2004

Less educated people have more severe stress

While less educated people report fewer stressful days than those with more education, their stress is more severe and has a larger impact on their health, reports a researcher from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and his colleagues in the current issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

10 May 2004

A computer-based test that detects impaired cognition has been developed

A computer-based test that detects impaired cognition has been developed by researchers from Monash University's Psychology department and could be used to identify people who are affected by drugs, chronic fatigue or even hangovers.

10 May 2004

Identifying the addiction genes, new treatments for addiction, and the possibility of individually tailored drugs

Identifying the addiction genes, new treatments for addiction, and the possibility of individually tailored drugs are just a few of the issues a new Foresight project announced today will be investigating.

10 May 2004

Gambling increases level of brain chemical

Researchers, using a new combination of techniques, have discovered that dopamine levels in our brains vary the most in situations where we are unsure if we are going to be rewarded, such as when we are gambling or playing the lottery.

7 May 2004

Head-cooling device prevents brain damage in oxygen-deprived newborn babies

Liggins Institute Director and trial Director Professor Peter Gluckman said the CoolCap trial results were the culmination of over 20 years work and provided the first evidence in humans that brain damage at birth could be treated. The findings offered hope for a new approach to a major set of clinical conditions, he said.

6 May 2004

New devices will help thousands of stroke victims recover mobility

Researchers from The University of Bath and the Chippenham Stroke Unit are playing a major role in a three-year programme to develop a special device which can be fitted inside caps or gloves.

6 May 2004

Computer games help raise self-esteem

Can computer games help raise self-esteem? Absolutely. In a world-first study, researchers from McGill University’s Department of Psychology have created and tested computer games that are specifically designed to help people enhance their self-acceptance.

6 May 2004

Neurobiologists pinpoint region of the brain responsible for storing distant memories

For the first time, UCLA neurobiologists have pinpointed a region of the brain called the anterior cingulate as responsible for retrieving and storing distant memories. Published in the May 7 edition of Science, the findings may suggest new ways of treating memory disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

6 May 2004

Care that combines medication and psychotherapy can reduce alcohol abuse by trauma survivors

Approximately 2.5 million Americans are so severely injured each year that they require inpatient hospital admissions, and between 10 and 40 percent of these patients go on to develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

5 May 2004

A new book to help children with Down Syndrome develop lifelong motor skills

A new book providing practical suggestions on how parents and professionals can help children with Down Syndrome (DS) develop lifelong motor skills will be published later this month.

3 May 2004

Human brain makes much more extensive use of highly complex statistics when learning a language than scientists ever realized

A team at the University of Rochester has found that the human brain makes much more extensive use of highly complex statistics when learning a language than scientists ever realized.

3 May 2004

New Zealand research will explore experiences of families coping with death

A new research project undertaken by Victoria University’s School of Psychology, New Zealand will explore experiences of families coping with death.

3 May 2004

MSF distributes medical supplies to hospitals as violence continues in troubled Indonesian city of Ambon

Last week MSF started to distribute medical supplies to four hospitals in Ambon city, in the Maluku province of eastern Indonesia. Over the last six days, the city has been shaken by violent fighting, which has caused an estimated 36 deaths and left scores wounded.

3 May 2004