Psychology News and Research

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

A cluttered brain doesn't remember

Lapses in memory occur more frequently with age, yet the reasons for this increasing forgetfulness have not always been clear. According to new research from Concordia University, older individuals have reduced learning and memory because their minds tend to be cluttered with irrelevant information when performing tasks.

20 Apr 2011

Offensive editorial leads to resignation of the president-elect of the American College of Surgeons

The president-elect of the American College of Surgeons had to resign from his position Sunday after weeks of controversy surrounding a Valentine’s Day editorial he wrote speaking of the mood-enhancing effects of semen on women during unprotected sex.

20 Apr 2011

'The Invisible Gorilla' test for inattention blindness

University of Utah psychologists have learned why many people experience "inattention blindness" - the phenomenon that leaves drivers on cell phones prone to traffic accidents and makes a gorilla invisible to viewers of a famous video.

18 Apr 2011

Weight loss and memory improvement: Link found

A new study shows that there is a link between weight loss, and improved memory in patients. The study was led by John Gunstad, assistant professor of psychology at Kent State University and focused on roughly 150 overweight patients.

17 Apr 2011

Person's inability to understand sarcasm and lies can be a warning sign of dementia

By asking a group of older adults to analyze videos of other people conversing -- some talking truthfully, some insincerely -- a group of scientists at the University of California, San Francisco has determined which areas of the brain govern a person's ability to detect sarcasm and lies.

16 Apr 2011

Evidence backing effectiveness of community-wide programs is poor, says new review

Programs that encourage communities to get more active are one strategy for stemming the global tide of obesity. Yet, a new review of studies says the evidence backing the effectiveness of these programs is poor.

16 Apr 2011

Analysis calls for experimental evidence to determine best way to disclose information to patients

Giving patients data about the risks and benefits of a medical intervention is not always helpful and may even lead them to irrational decisions, according to an article in the Hastings Center Report. That finding calls into question whether it is essential to disclose quantitative data to patients to help them make informed decisions.

16 Apr 2011

Neural dysfunction underlying impulsive choice increases with AD severity: Study

Researchers already know that alcohol dependence is strongly associated with impaired impulse control or, more precisely, the inability to choose large, delayed rewards rather than smaller but more immediate rewards.

16 Apr 2011

Family-based HIV prevention interventions needed for juvenile offenders, say BHCRC researchers

More intensive or family-based HIV prevention interventions may be needed to encourage juvenile offenders to use condoms and stop engaging in risky sexual behavior, say researchers from the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center.

16 Apr 2011

Parental AUDs associated with increased risk of AUDs among offspring: Study

Researchers know that there is a strong link between parental alcohol use disorders and the risk for developing an AUD among their offspring. This study looked at the risk of AUDs in the offspring of a large population-based sample of Danish parents. Findings confirmed that parental AUDs were associated with an increased risk of AUDs among the offspring.

16 Apr 2011

Complementary alternative medicine may improve quality of life in urban adolescents with asthma

A new study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati shows that urban adolescents with asthma may experience worse outcomes when not using spiritual coping and often use complementary and alternative medicine, or integrative medicine, like prayer or relaxation, to manage symptoms.

16 Apr 2011

Energy drinks with alcohol may increase risk of drinking

Energy drinks mixed with alcohol, such as Red Bull- and vodka, have become trendy. While this consumption has been implicated in risky drinking practices and associated accidents and injuries, there is little laboratory research on how the effects of this combination differ from those of drinking alcohol alone.

16 Apr 2011

Study: Men and women have different emotions in conflictive situations

Women feel their emotions more intensively than men when a conflict arises within the couple. Conversely, it is men -who mostly express "powerful emotions" as wrath or despise- who cause conflicts more frequently.

15 Apr 2011

Serotonin can help promote human intimacy and romantic feelings

The judgments we make about the intimacy of other couples' relationships appear to be influenced by the brain chemical serotonin, reports a new study published in Biological Psychiatry.

15 Apr 2011

Study: Simple illusion can reduce arthritic pain

A serendipitous discovery by academics at The University of Nottingham has shown that a simple illusion can significantly reduce — and in some cases even temporarily eradicate — arthritic pain in the hand.

15 Apr 2011

New study shows neurophysiological impacts of psychotherapy

The use of cognitive-behavioural therapy to treat tics in Tourette syndrome may be as effective as and even superior to medication in certain cases.

15 Apr 2011

Active efforts towards happiness

Now the world's first membership organization dedicated to spreading happiness has been officially launched. It is called “Action for Happiness” and claims to have 4,500 members in more than 60 countries.

12 Apr 2011

Healthways, Gallup present findings from Well-Being Index at RSA meeting

Executives and scientists from the Gallup and Healthways organisations presented findings from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index which has collected information from approximately 3,000 adults in the United Kingdom over the past three months.

12 Apr 2011

Research on workplace injustices

A woman, who's running a fever, shivering, and coughing, tries to call in sick, but her supervisor screams, "I don't care what illness you have, if you're not in the office today, I'll consider it your resignation!" These are real examples of workplace bullying that cause stress, depression, and anxiety. The National Mental Health Association estimates that each year, more than one billion sick days can be attributed to mental health disorders caused by work stress.

12 Apr 2011

Real-time brain feedback can help gain greater control over thoughts

As humans face increasing distractions in their personal and professional lives, University of British Columbia researchers have discovered that people can gain greater control over their thoughts with real-time brain feedback.

8 Apr 2011