60-Second Mind

Up Your Online Dating Game with Evidence-Based Strategies

14 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Choosing a user name starting with a letter appearing earlier in the alphabet is just one scientifically vetted way to increase the odds of turning an...

Junk Diet Rewires Rat Brains

07 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

High-calorie and exceedingly pleasurable foods appear to change rat brain rewards circuitry, causing the rodents to continue to seek such fare. Erika ...

High Price Tag on Meds May Boost Healing

31 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Parkinson’s patients derived more benefits from a salt solution they were told was an expensive drug than from the same solution when it was describ...

Publication Bias May Boost Findings for Bilingual Brain Benefits

30 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Of studies presented at conferences, those that found a cognitive benefit to bilingualism were almost twice as likely to get published in journals as ...

Inclusion Illusion Lessens Racial Bias

20 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Implicit bias against another race lessened after volunteers experienced themselves via virtual reality as a member of that race. Karen Hopkin reports...

Blood Test Forecasts Concussion Severity

15 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Levels of a protein fragment in the blood paralleled how long head injuries benched hockey players. Ingrid Wickelgren reports

Bouncy Gait Improves Mood

08 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

If you're in an up mood, you may walk more energetically. But a study finds that purposefully walking more energetically may improve your mood. Christ...

Synchronized Walking Reduces Opponent's Perceived Size

09 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Subjects who kept pace with a walking colleague estimated a potential enemy to be smaller and lighter than did other walkers who were not marching. Ka...

Big Parental Control May Stunt Kid Assertiveness

03 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Young adults who’d had highly controlling parents were less able to stress their own viewpoints to a friend or partner in confident and productive w...

Lots or Little Sleep Linked to Sick Days

29 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Absence from work due to illness increased dramatically for those who slept less than six hours or more than nine hours per night. Christie Nicholson ...

Can’t Take My Eyes off You—Your Face, That Is

06 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The direction of your gaze when looking at someone offers an unconscious, automatic giveaway of whether your initial reaction is romance or sex. Chris...

Talking to Strangers Makes You Happy

30 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

People who had to strike up conversations on a subway later reported feeling happier than those who didn’t. Christie Nicholson reports.

People Think Experiences Bring Happiness, Still Opt for Things

24 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Survey subjects rated life experiences as making them happier and as a better use of money than buying objects. But they actually spent their cash on ...

Childhood Stress Decreases Size of Brain Regions

16 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Children who experience neglect, abuse and/or poverty can have smaller amygdalas and hippocampuses, brain regions involved in emotion and memory, comp...

Even Monkeys Believe In Hot Streaks

12 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Monkeys trained to play fixed video games made moves indicating that they expected certain patterns to occur. Erika Beras reports  

Brain State Bread Crumbs Lead Way Back to Consciousness

28 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers studying anesthetized rats discovered a handful of activity patterns that may mark the path to consciousness after anesthesia. Karen Hopki...

Body's Pain Perception Mapped for First Time

23 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Our ability to pinpoint pain varies across the body, and in a specific pattern. Christie Nicholson reports  

Vision Involves a Bit of Hearing, Too

02 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers could tell what sounds blindfolded volunters were hearing by analyzing activity in their visual cortexes. Christie Nicholson reports  

Parents Who Support Corporal Punishment Do It a Lot

21 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Thirty-three families allowed themselves to be recorded for up to six nights. Parents who said they supported corporal punishment did it often and wit...

Extroversion Extends Benefits across Cultures

14 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

In a study covering five different countries, subjects reported feeling best on the days when they practiced what are considered extroverted actions. ...

Eaters Assume Crunchy Foods Have Fewer Calories

07 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Food’s texture in your mouth—also called “mouthfeel” or “oral haptics”—influences estimates of calorie counts. And people might eat more...

Stressed Teens May Be Better Drivers

28 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Teenage drivers who have a high sensitivity to stress actually have lower rates of car accidents than their more mellow friends. Christie Nicholson re...

Mobile Phones Exert Emotional Pull

21 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

What's being called "nomophobia," the anxiety of not having your mobile phone with you, may be a real condition among teens, at least according to two...

Barbie Exposure May Limit Girls' Career Imagination

12 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Girls who played with dolls were then asked about future careers. Those who played with Barbie more likely to envision traditional pink-collar jobs th...

Kids Books May Cause Confusion about Animals

08 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Children who heard descriptions of animals behaving like humans were less likely to attribute to a real animal a newly learned biological fact than we...

Danger Explainers Convince Kids Better Than Do Edict Issuers

24 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Moms were better able to sway a child's perception of risk when they explained the reasons an activity was dangerous and its possible consequences rat...

Youth Gang Membership Affects Mental Health Later in Life

19 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Adults who had been members of gangs in their adolescence had poorer outcomes on a variety of measures, including physical and mental health, than tho...

Infants Use Verbs They Know to Learn New Nouns

10 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Babies learning speech figure out what an object is by listening to others talk about what that object does. Christie Nicholson reports  

Your Memory May Be Edited

02 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Recent and easily retrievable information can overwrite the details of memories, thus altering them in your mind. Christie Nicholson reports

Young Musicians Reap Long-Term Neuro Benefits

22 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

People who played instruments as children responded a bit quicker to complex speech sounds as adults, even if they had not played an instrument in man...

Movie-Watching Together Strengthens Marriages

08 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Psychologists found that encouraging newlywed couples to watch romance flicks, and then discuss them cut the three-year divorce rate in half. Christie...

Review Finds Meditation Somewhat Effective against Anxiety and Depression

27 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A meta-analysis of 47 previously published studies concludes that there's moderate evidence for meditation offering some relief of anxiety and depress...

Brain-Training Games May Not Improve Overall Intelligence

14 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Brain-training games seem to temporarily improve specific tasks, but claims that they can improve overall brain function have yet to be proved. Christ...

How Computers Affect Our Movements

07 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Computer-use affects the brain's ability to generalize the skill of moving a mouse. Christie Nicholson reports

"Angelina Jolie Effect" Leaves Public with Inaccurate Knowledge of Breast Cancer Risk

27 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A survey of 2500 Americans finds that despite many knowing about Jolie's preventive double mastectomy, most remain in the dark about breast cancer ris...

Test Prep Doesn't Help Raise Intelligence Scores

19 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Scores on standardized tests may go up but a student's ability for abstract and logical thinking may not improve. Christie Nicholson reports

We Are More Likely to Lie in the Afternoon

30 Nov 2013

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to catch someone in a lie, you'll raise your odds in the afternoons, as most people are more likely to cheat or lie then as opposed to the...

Overeating Due to Stress?

17 Nov 2013

Contributed by Lukas

If you over-eat or under-eat as a reaction to stress, don't worry, your body may compensate to balance you over time. Christie Nicholson reports

Seeing Photos of Food Makes Actual Food Less Tasty

09 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Looking at photos of food can lead us to become bored with other similar foods. Christie Nicholson reports

Reducing a Fear During Sleep

03 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Exposure to a fearful memory while in deep sleep may help reduce the fear. Christie Nicholson reports

Generosity Can Breed Contempt

24 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

In a group experiment, members who donated the least and the most to the community were both ostracized. Amy Kraft reports

Babies Know Animals Have Gushy Insides

15 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

It appears we might be born with the knowledge that living things have insides and are not hollow. Christie Nicholson reports

When to Catch a Lie via Text

09 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A recent experiment finds that when people are about to lie via digital text they take longer to construct their words. Christie Nicholson reports

We Probably Won't Recycle Shredded Paper

03 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Turns out that if we think something looks like trash then we probably won't bother recycling it. Christie Nicholson reports

Limit Youth Football Practice Hits For Brain Health

18 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Changes in youth football practices cut total hits to the head in half, while leaving game situations unaffected. Ingrid Wickelgren reports.

Portion-Size Label Influences Ingestion Intake

03 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas

People ate less of a portion of food if it was labeled "double-size" rather than "regular." Karen Hopkin reports

Social Status Affects Who We Choose to Believe

28 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to news or political statements, the more powerful the speaker the more we are likely to believe them. Christie Nicholson reports

Happiness During Teen Years Predicts Happiness as Adults

22 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A survey of thousands finds that our mood during the young adult years is a good predictor of later happiness in retirement. Christie Nicholson report...

What Fighting Couples Want

15 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Fighting couples don't want an apology, but rather for one partner to relinquish power. Christie Nicholson reports

Expansive Postures May Lead Us to Dishonesty

09 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A study finds that large, expansive body postures may influence people's honesty. Christie Nicholson reports

Training Can Increase Empathy

24 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A particular type of meditation training led study subjects to become more altruistic. Christie Nicholson reports

Memory Loss during Menopause

12 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Many women complained about memory loss during menopause, but a recent study provides the evidence. Christie Nicholson reports

The Quirk of a High IQ

06 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

It seems that those with high IQs have a beneficial quirk in their ability to perceive a moving scene. Christie Nicholson

How to Enjoy Your Decision

22 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

When facing a lot of choice, it is best to decide on one option and then physically shut off all others. Christie Nicholson reports

Inside the Mind of a Psychopath

14 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The brains of psychopaths react differently to images of someone being hurt than the brains of non-psychopaths. Christie Nicholson reports

Money Is Valued Differently Depending on How It's Earned

08 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

We tend to diminish the value of money earned through questionable means. Christie Nicholson reports

Green Spaces Promote Happier Communities

29 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A long-term survey of more than 10,000 people finds that green spaces make for better moods. Christie Nicholson reports

Memory Improves with Sleep

15 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Sleep plays a crucial role in better memory. Christie Nicholson reports

Being Monkey in the Middle Is Stressful

10 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study of macaque monkeys finds that those who are of middle status tend to experience the most stress. Christie Nicholson reports

Unhealthy Eating Leaves You in a Bad Mood

02 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

If you are in a bad mood don't try to comfort yourself with unhealthy food. Christie Nicholson reports

Mindfulness May Improve Test Scores

28 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study finds that a meditation practice improved Graduate Record Exam scores. Christie Nicholson reports

We Think the Future Is Closer Than the Past

22 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study finds that we might think of time as though we are literally moving through it. Christie Nicholson reports

Sexting Habits of Teens

07 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study takes a closer look at the sexting habits of one particular subgroup within teens. Christie Nicholson reports

Studying Languages Can Grow the Brain

28 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers have found that people who study languages tend to show significant growth in certain areas of the brain. Christie Nicholson reports

Three-Year-Olds Know Better

18 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A study finds that three-year-old children know a lot more than we might give them credit for. Christie Nicholson reports

You May Think Your Name Is Rare

11 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

We tend to overestimate how rare our names are, perhaps in an effort to preserve a sense of being special. Christie Nicholson reports

We Are What We Smell

03 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study finds that we can instill our emotions in others through chemical signals delivered by scent. Christie Nicholson reports

Coffee Boosts Recognition of Positive Words

30 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study finds that we tend to recognize words associated with positive thoughts faster after we've had some coffee. Christie Nicholson reports

Diapers Hinder Walking for Babies

23 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A new study finds that diapers, both disposable and cloth, impede walking for babies. Christie Nicholson reports

Images of Thin Bodies Impact Body Preferences

15 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study shows that images of thin women do in fact alter women's body preferences. Christie Nicholson reports

Dexter Talks Psychopath Stress Management

08 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Michael C. Hall, of TV's Dexter, talks about psychopathy with psychologist Kevin Dutton, author of The Wisdom of Psychopaths

Dan Ariely Talks Creativity and Dishonesty

29 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Ariely is a professor of behavior economics at Duke University. His latest book, The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty, explains how creativity make...

Natural Setting and Tech Break Boost Creativity

22 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Volunteers who spent at least four days hiking with no communications or computing technology scored higher on creativity tests upon their return than...

Civilian Trauma May Contribute to Combat PTSD

08 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder were more likely to have experienced violence or abuse in civilian life, especially during childhood. Kar...

Bad Boys and Gals Present as More Attractive

02 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

People who score higher on negative personality traits know how to look hotter when they try harder than do those with more stable characters. Christi...

When Old Habits Die Easy

25 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

New research finds a way to break an embedded habit, even a bad habit, at least for mice. Christie Nicholson reports

Rats' Whiskers Inspire New Way to See

14 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Blindfolded subjects were able to successfully use a plastic version of a rat's whisker to help them detect objects. Christie Nicholson reports

Stable or Sexy? It Depends on Ovulation

06 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A women who settles down with what she considers to be a stable man might not find him all that attractive while she is ovulating. Christie Nicholson ...

Cash Rewards Might Make Us Unhappy

29 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study finds that when we can easily quantify a good we tend to be less happy with it, as opposed to those goods that are less easily quantifi...

How We Process Horrible Sounds

26 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers develop a model for how we find certain sounds, like nails on a chalkboard, unbearable. Christie Nicholson reports

Helping Your Child Delay Gratification

15 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A recent twist on the famous "marshmallow test" for children finds that environment and experience play a big role in a child's ability to resist temp...

When We Hear a Sound

01 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

We tend to notice sounds that appear much more often and accurately than sounds that vanish. Christie Nicholson reports

The Difference between Honesty and Cheating

23 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study finds that where we sign a document can influence our tendency to be honest or cheat. Christie Nicholson reports

When the Bride Has Doubt

16 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

New research finds that prenuptial doubt predicts marital separation, especially when that doubt comes from the bride. Christie Nicholson reports

Fear Makes Art More Engaging

12 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study finds that when people are stimulated by fear, they tend to be more engaged with art. Christie Nicholson reports

Improving Eyewitness Accuracy in Police Lineups

02 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Making decisions faster may improve the accuracy of choosing the guilty person from a police lineup. Christie Nicholson reports

Why You Choose the Brands You Do

26 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study finds that we might often choose brands and products for reasons that have nothing to do with the actual brand or product. Christie Nic...

Attitudes toward Sex Are Changing

19 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A new survey of college students finds that attitudes toward gender and promiscuity are changing. Christie Nicholson reports

Hoarders Have Their Own Category of Disorder

13 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A recent study finds evidence for why hoarders might be considered separate from those suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Christie Nicholso...

Wobbly Chairs May Affect Your Values

04 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A study finds that unstable furniture can influence how we feel about our relationships. Christie Nicholson reports

Some Multitasking Is More Taxing

28 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Recent research finds that different forms of multitasking can impact our performance much more than others. Christie Nicholson reports

Attraction between Friends of Opposite Sexes

22 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

A recent survey finds considerable differences in how men and women view attraction between male and female friends

Our Friends' Weight Influences Our Weight Gain and Loss

15 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Research finds that who we socialize with can influence our eating behavior. Christie Nicholson reports

Lingering with a Decision Breeds More Indecision

08 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers have found that time spent deliberating on a decision actually exacerbates the difficulty in making that decision. Christie Nicholson repo...

Do We Care About Future Generations?

02 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

New research finds that we tend to care more about the success of future generations when we are faced with our own mortality. Christie Nicholson repo...

Confusion Helps Us Learn

25 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

It may be a good thing to be confused during the learning process. Christie Nicholson reports

America Needs to Study Fractions

16 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Recent research finds that a solid grade school knowledge of fractions and long-form division accurately predicts later success in high school math. C...

Testosterone Promotes Aggression Automatically

09 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

New research suggests that testosterone may make us more aggressive without us consciously feeling any aggression. Christie Nicholson reports

Different Sports Require Different Motivation

03 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Performance in different kinds of sports benefits from specific types of motivational "self-talk." Christie Nicholson reports

Watching Shot Can Boost Pain

26 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Subjects who watched a hand being pricked by a needle while they received a gentle electric shock felt more pain than others who watched gentler mater...