Psychology News and Research

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

Music lessons help children improve reading skills

Children exposed to a multi-year programme of music tuition involving training in increasingly complex rhythmic, tonal, and practical skills display superior cognitive performance in reading skills compared with their non-musically trained peers, according to a study published in the journal Psychology of Music, published by SAGE.

16 Mar 2009

University of Florida doctors test targets for Parkinson surgery

Doctors may be able to tailor a specialized form of brain surgery to more closely match the needs of Parkinson patients, according to results from the first large-scale effort to compare the two current target areas of deep brain stimulation surgery, or DBS.

15 Mar 2009

Men much less likely to feel and express gratitude than women

With Mother's Day, Father's Day and high school and college graduations upcoming, there will be plenty of gift-giving and well wishes.

15 Mar 2009

A blood test for Alzheimer's on the horizon

Researchers have revealed a direct relationship between two specific antibodies and the severity of Alzheimer's disease symptoms, raising hopes that a diagnostic blood test for the devastating disorder is within reach.

11 Mar 2009

Study looks at driving under the influence of cannabis

Thrill-seeking young men are more likely to drive under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) and engage in reckless driving, according to a new University of Montreal study.

11 Mar 2009

MRI and CT used to map intelligence in the brain

Neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have conducted the most comprehensive brain mapping to date of the cognitive abilities measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), the most widely used intelligence test in the world.

11 Mar 2009

Salt could be 'nature's antidepressant' according to new research

Most people consume far too much salt, and a University of Iowa researcher has discovered one potential reason we crave it: it might put us in a better mood.

11 Mar 2009

Identifying and treating depression plus exercise in African-Americans may reduce heart disease

Identifying and treating depression, including increasing physical activity, may improve quality of life and reduce cardiovascular disease and death in African Americans, according to reports presented at the American Heart Association's 2009 Conference on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism.

11 Mar 2009

Can brain training games help prevent Alzheimer's?

Loss of thinking power is a fear shared by many aging baby boomers.

11 Mar 2009

Scientists identify the neural circuitry of first impressions

Neuroscientists at New York University and Harvard University have identified the neural systems involved in forming first impressions of others.

8 Mar 2009

Human sweat contains emotional meanings

When threatened, many animals release chemicals as a warning signal to members of their own species, who in turn react to the signals and take action.

8 Mar 2009

Positive emotions critical for upkeep of physical health for people worldwide

A researcher from the University of Kansas has spearheaded a new investigation into the link between emotions and health.

4 Mar 2009

Believers and non-believers have distinct brain differences

Believing in God can help block anxiety and minimize stress, according to new University of Toronto research that shows distinct brain differences between believers and non-believers.

4 Mar 2009

Control of emotions varies with age

With age comes the ability to better regulate emotions in order to not disrupt performance on a memory-intensive task, according to a study published in the March issue of the journal Psychology and Aging.

4 Mar 2009

Pride undeserving of its negative reputation

The age-old question of whether pride is the seventh sin or an adaptive virtue has been answered by two Northeastern University scientists.

4 Mar 2009

Persistent Electronic Warnings Push Some Smokers to Quit

The more smokers worry about health risks, the more they will contemplate quitting, according to a new study in the latest issue of the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Warning messages create worry that can nudge smokers down that road, the researchers concluded.

3 Mar 2009