Psychology News and Research

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

How do you remember your own name?

How do you remember your own name? Is it possible ever to forget it? The memory trace, or engram, "feels" like it is stored permanently in the brain and it will never be forgotten.

16 Jan 2005

A little anxiety can be a good thing when it comes to cancer symptoms

A little anxiety can be a good thing when it comes to cancer symptoms according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. They report that people with low overall anxiety levels were more apt to ignore symptoms of rectal cancer for long periods of time, thereby delaying treatment.

12 Jan 2005

Vital research into the effects of premature birth throughout childhood

Results of a follow-up study into babies born extremely prematurely was published last week (Thursday 6 January) in the New England Journal of Medicine.

10 Jan 2005

Body drumming a hit for phobics

Conquering a fear of heights or spiders might be as easy as some strategic body drumming.

10 Jan 2005

Groundbreaking study will assist stroke and head injury victims rehabilitate their sight

For the first time, Crawford and his associates used measurements of eye and head movements, computer simulations and brain recordings, to determine how we use vision to guide our movements.

10 Jan 2005

Mammals other than humans can distinguish between different speech patterns

Mammals other than humans can distinguish between different speech patterns. Neuroscientists in Barcelona report that rats, like humans (newborn and adult) and Tamarin monkeys, can extract regular patterns in language from speech (prosodic) cues.

9 Jan 2005

Scents and emotions linked by learning

Whether emotional responses to scent are a product of nature or nurture is a matter of scientific debate. But a Brown University study, published in the current issue of the International Journal of Comparative Psychology, comes down on the nurturing side.

6 Jan 2005

Mothers still face negative stereotypes in the workplace

Despite the gains women have made in the workplace, new research suggests one group of women employees still face negative stereotypes – mothers.

5 Jan 2005

Elementary school intervention boosts positive functioning in early childhood

An elementary school intervention program that taught children impulse control and gave their teachers and parents better management skills has long-lasting effects extending into early adulthood, showing that the children are more productive and well-adjusted members of society at age 21, according to a new study.

4 Jan 2005

Conduct disorder and alcoholism in teens

While teenagers who drink also tend to have behavior problems, there is more of a genetic basis to their conduct than there is to the lure of alcohol, a new study on 14-year-old Finnish twins reports.

30 Dec 2004

Researchers show benefit of dreams after an emotional event

The advice to 'sleep on it' for a while isn't a bad idea, according to a new study done in part by University of Alberta researchers.

22 Dec 2004

Many women at high risk for breast cancer are foregoing tamoxifen

Many women at high risk for breast cancer are foregoing tamoxifen, the first FDA-approved drug for prevention of breast cancer, due to concerns about side effects, increased risk of other cancers, and lack of information, a new study by researchers in Boston shows. The study was published in the December 14 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

20 Dec 2004

Ethical challenges ahead for neuroscience and society

Are we ready for a future where brain scans invade our private thoughts? Will we have to alter our brains chemically to keep competitive at our jobs? Could science determine that "souls" do not exist, and, if so, what does that mean for how we think of ourselves as human beings?

20 Dec 2004

Genealogy in a cancer prevention curriculum for high school students

A team of researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University are using an old tool to teach new information about cancer: the family tree.

19 Dec 2004

Realistic expectations make holidays happier

'Tis the season for spending time with family, friends, and for many – a therapist. But holiday blues, nagging family stress and overindulgence can be avoided if you set realistic expectations, according to a psychology professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

13 Dec 2004

Cumulative trauma can have an overall effect on health in later years

Cumulative trauma during a person's lifetime can have an overall effect on health in one's later years, according to a study that examines the consequences of traumatic events on older adults' physical health.

13 Dec 2004

Changing memories of food may be a way to influence eating habits

For the millions of Americans who worry about overeating during the holiday season, there may be hope: A new UC Irvine study suggests changing their memories of food may be a way to influence their eating habits.

13 Dec 2004

Powerful women at a disadvantage in the marriage market because men may prefer to marry less accomplished women

Men are more likely to want to marry women who are their assistants at work rather than their colleagues or bosses, a University of Michigan study finds.

13 Dec 2004

Teen-agers suffering from bulimia may also be struggling with a chronic form of depression

Teen-agers suffering from bulimia may in fact be fighting a two-front war, coping with the effects of a devastating eating disorder while struggling with a chronic form of depression, reveals research by Texas A&M University psychologist Marisol Perez

8 Dec 2004

Magnetism does not cause paranormal experiences

Previous research has shown that paranormal experiences can be achieved via electromagnetic stimulation of the temple lobe. Now scientists from Uppsala and Lund universities in Sweden are calling into question how the experiments were set up and therefore questioning the results.

7 Dec 2004