Psychology News and Research

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

Scientists identify two genes involved in major symptoms of MeCP2 duplication disorder

The anxiety and behavioral issues associated with excess MeCP2 protein result from overexpression of two genes (Crh [corticotropin-releasing hormone] and Oprm 1 [mu-opioid receptor MOR 1]), which may point the way to treating these problems in patients with too much of the protein, said Baylor of Medicine scientists in a report that appears online in the journal Nature Genetics.

8 Jan 2012

Mate preferences hover just outside of conscious awareness: Study

Stating that you don't care if you land a partner who is "hot" or "sexy" is relatively commonplace. But what people say they want and what they actually want are often two very different things when it comes to romantic attraction.

6 Jan 2012

Varenicline may reduce smoking rates before people try to quit

Smokers planning to kick the habit may have more success if they begin using a cessation medication several weeks before they actually try to quit.

6 Jan 2012

Study brings to light physiological, cognitive differences of political left and right

From cable TV news pundits to red-meat speeches in Iowa and New Hampshire, our nation's deep political stereotypes are on full display: Conservatives paint self-indulgent liberals as insufferably absent on urgent national issues, while liberals say fear-mongering conservatives are fixated on exaggerated dangers to the country.

6 Jan 2012

Driving in the mid-lane helps pensioners stay safe

It's official: older adults are naturally inclined to drive in the middle of the road, leaving the younger generation to cut corners. This tendency to sit mid-lane is an in-built safety mechanism that helps pensioners stay safe behind the wheel, according to researchers at the University of Leeds, UK.

5 Jan 2012

Bingo enhances cognitive performance in people with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease

Bingo, a popular activity in nursing homes, senior centers and assisted-living facilities, has benefits that extend well beyond socializing. Researchers found high-contrast, large bingo cards boost thinking and playing skills for people with cognitive difficulties and visual perception problems produced by Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD).

4 Jan 2012

Gestational diabetes along with poverty raises risk of ADHD in the child: Study

According to a new study pregnant mothers with gestational diabetes are more likely to have kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Additionally if they have a poorer socioeconomic status, the child is 14 times more likely to be diagnosed with the behavioral disorder, researchers at Queens College and Mount Sinai School of Medicine found.

3 Jan 2012

Low SES, maternal gestational diabetes may increase risk of ADHD in six year olds

In the first study of its kind, researchers at Queens College and Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that low socioeconomic status (SES) and maternal gestational diabetes together may cause a 14-fold increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in six year olds.

2 Jan 2012

Older people can respond faster in decision-making tasks

Both children and the elderly have slower response times when they have to make quick decisions in some settings. But recent research suggests that much of that slower response is a conscious choice to emphasize accuracy over speed.

28 Dec 2011

Oral and tactile sensitivities in childhood can lead to OCD

In childhood, rituals like regular schedules for meal, bath, and bed times are a healthy part of behavioral development. But combined with oral and tactile sensitivities, such as discomfort at the dentist or irritation caused by specific fabrics, these rituals could be an early warning sign of adult Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

27 Dec 2011

Gloomy on Twitter?

A team of mathematicians from the University of Vermont analyzed 4.6 billion Twitter messages worldwide over 33 months. They assigned happiness grades to more than 10,000 of the most common words, crunched all the numbers and plotted them on a graph that shows a gradual downward slope of happiness during the past year and a half or so, through mid-September.

27 Dec 2011

AAA announces recipients of Young Investigator Awards

The American Association of Anatomist's (AAA) Young Investigator Awards combine three long-standing AAA awards-Bensley, Herrick, and Mossman-with the recently established Morphological Sciences Award, all recognizing investigators in the early stages of their careers who have made important contributions to biomedical science through their research in cell/molecular biology, developmental biology, comparative neuroanatomy, or the morphological sciences.

26 Dec 2011

Clear link between time spent in church and lower blood pressure

Does a belief in God confer any health benefits? With the help of a large Norwegian longitudinal health study called HUNT, researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) were able to find a clear relationship between time spent in church and lower blood pressure in both women and men.

26 Dec 2011

Five weight loss tips for the New Year

With the new year right around the corner, many will be thinking about their New Year's resolution. One of the most popular - losing weight - can also be one of the most difficult to keep. But researchers at Temple's Center for Obesity Research and Education (CORE) work year-round to study the treatment and prevention of obesity.

22 Dec 2011

NSU to create College of Nursing on Jan. 1., 2012

Nova Southeastern University will create the College of Nursing on Jan. 1., 2012. Formally a part of NSU's College of Allied Health and Nursing, the new college has emerged because of the nursing program's growth and success over the last five years.

21 Dec 2011

Tips for people to lose weight, quit smoking and manage stress this New Year

As the New Year rolls in, many people will be looking to better themselves by resolving to lose weight, quit smoking and manage stress. Sticking to resolutions for more than a few weeks, however, is a lofty task that takes a great deal of motivation and even lifestyle changes.

21 Dec 2011

Anxious individuals are less sensitive to their environments: Study

Anxious people have long been classified as "hypersensitive" - they're thought to be more fearful and feel threatened more easily than their counterparts. But new research from Tel Aviv University shows that the anxious may not be hypersensitive at all - in fact, they may not be sensitive enough.

21 Dec 2011

Sample list of attainable New Year's resolutions

New Year's resolutions are full of clichés and empty promises but a clinical psychologist at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has some sound advice that might just help a little.

20 Dec 2011

Alcohol would make present-focused people more aggressive

Drinking enough alcohol to become intoxicated increases aggression significantly in people who have one particular personality trait, according to new research.

20 Dec 2011

Tips for sharing holidays in hospital

There are few holiday presents worse than a hospital stay. But if a loved one or friend must be hospitalized this season, University of Alabama at Birmingham experts say you can take steps to ensure their holiday is still merry and bright. "Being in the hospital can be distressing for anybody," says Joshua Klapow, Ph.D., a UAB clinical psychologist. "While the psychological impact may be short-lived, the bottom line is people would rather be well and home than sick and away.

20 Dec 2011