Psychology News and Research

RSS

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

New insights into wiring and firing of the social brain

New insights into the wiring and firing of the "social brain" in humans and primates reveals the brain areas important in altruistic motives and behavior, and the brain regions that respond to the pain of discrimination.

19 Oct 2012

Researchers identify brain mechanisms that regulate cocaine-seeking behavior

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) have identified mechanisms in the brain responsible for regulating cocaine-seeking behavior, providing an avenue for drug development that could greatly reduce the high relapse rate in cocaine addiction.

19 Oct 2012

Sleep deprivation reduces aggression, testosterone in men

Sleep deprivation is associated with a reduction in reactive aggression and testosterone levels in men, Canadian study findings show.

16 Oct 2012

Mother rats respond much differently to cocaine than non-mothers

Mother rats respond much differently to cocaine than female rats that have never given birth, according to new University of Michigan research that looks at both behavior and brain chemistry.

16 Oct 2012

Men with childhood ADHD have multiple disadvantages throughout their lifetime

A new study conducted by researchers at the Child Study Center at NYU Langone Medical Center found men diagnosed as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had significantly worse educational, occupational, economic and social outcomes in a 33-year follow-up study compared to men who were not diagnosed.

16 Oct 2012

School-wide interventions reduce children's aggressive behaviors

An analysis of a school behavior strategy-known as School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS)-found that these types of programs significantly reduced children's aggressive behaviors and office discipline referrals, as well as improved problems with concentration and emotional regulation.

16 Oct 2012

Computer-delivered interventions do not effectively curb problematic college drinking

Computer-delivered and face-to-face interventions both can help curb problematic college drinking for a little while, but only in-person encounters produce results that last beyond a few months, according to a new analysis of the techniques schools use to counsel students on alcohol consumption.

16 Oct 2012

Study demonstrates how new scientific knowledge drives novel treatments for spinal cord injuries

Research released today demonstrates how new scientific knowledge is driving innovative treatments for spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord damage is debilitating and life-altering, limiting or preventing movement and feeling for millions worldwide, and leading to chronic health conditions and pain.

16 Oct 2012

Pregnancy stress can cut brain benefits of motherhood

A new study in animals shows that chronic stress during pregnancy prevents brain benefits of motherhood, a finding that researchers suggest could increase understanding of postpartum depression.

15 Oct 2012

AXA PPP healthcare introduces new Facebook app for cancer patients

AXA PPP healthcare has launched a new Facebook application - little big things - for people affected by cancer to share inspirational tips and practical information on coping with the disease and its treatment.

15 Oct 2012

UMass Amherst neuroscientist to receive 2012 Frank A. Beach Award from SBN

UMass Amherst neuroscientist Luke Remage-Healey will receive the 2012 Frank A. Beach Award from the Society for Behavioral Endocrinology for work showing exceptional promise and significant contributions in the field of behavioral neuroendocrinology. Named after a founder of the field, the award will be presented during the society's annual meeting this week in New Orleans. Remage-Healey will also give a lecture at the society's annual meeting next year.

15 Oct 2012

Study helps uncover how brain processes and interprets facial expressions

Research released today helps reveal how human and primate brains process and interpret facial expressions, and the role of facial mimicry in everything from deciphering an unclear smile to establishing relationships of power and status.

15 Oct 2012

ELSA report reveals economic, social, psychological and health concerns of U.K.’s ageing society

One in six people in England aged over 50 are socially isolated. They have few socially orientated hobbies, little civic or cultural engagement with society, and may have very limited social networks. This was a key finding from the most recent report of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), a comprehensive study that aims to understand the economic, social, psychological and health concerns of an ageing society.

15 Oct 2012

Perception test could predict mild cognitive impairment

Psychologists at the University of Toronto and the Georgia Institute of Technology - commonly known as Georgia Tech - have shown that an individual's inability to recognize once-familiar faces and objects may have as much to do with difficulty perceiving their distinct features as it does with the capacity to recall from memory.

12 Oct 2012

Concordia researcher investigates cross-gender behavior in children

In exercise books, sports line-ups, or in the simple act of going to the bathroom, school children have to answer the seemingly simple question, "are you a boy or a girl?" For Canadian school kids who exhibit cross-gender behaviour or presentation, this question is not only limiting, it's the source of angst.

12 Oct 2012

Brain scans can identify reading skills of children

If a 7-year-old is breezing through the "Harry Potter" books, studies indicate that he or she will be a strong reader later in life. Conversely, if a 7-year-old is struggling with "The Cat in the Hat," that child will most likely struggle with reading going forward.

12 Oct 2012

Psychological interventions improve quality of life, reduce total care costs

Evidence presented at the recent "European Federation of Psychologists' Association" (EFPA) conference showed that psychological interventions do not only improve quality of life but are also cost-effective. Return on investment of health promotion at work is 10:1.

11 Oct 2012

Testosterone fosters social behavior in men

The hormone testosterone stands for typically male attributes - it fosters the forming of the sexual characteristics, increases libido and muscle building. Women also have this sex hormone, but to a much lesser extent.

11 Oct 2012

Study to explore effects of intense music training on childhood brain development

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, the USC Brain and Creativity Institute and Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) are delighted to announce a longitudinal research collaboration to investigate the emotional, social and cognitive effects of musical training on childhood brain development.

10 Oct 2012

Structured after-school activities improve children’s academic achievement

School-age children who participate in structured after-school activities improve their academic achievement, according to a new study from Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

10 Oct 2012