Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
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 scientific...
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...
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 dr...
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 almos...
Inclusion Illusion Lessens Racial Bias
20 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Implicit bias against another race lessened after volunteers experienced themselves via virtual real...
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. ...
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 walkin...
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 lighte...
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...
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 m...
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 whet...
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 ...
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 buyi...
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, ...
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 ...
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 p...
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 r...
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...
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 ...
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 p...
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 esti...
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 tha...
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 rea...
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 ...
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 r...
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 activi...
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 measur...
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 obje...
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 ...
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...
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...
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 medi...
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 ov...
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 Nichols...
"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 mastectom...
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...
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 ...
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 balan...
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 r...
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 report...
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 ostraci...
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. C...
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 con...
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. Ch...
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 situation...
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 Ho...
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 ...
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 ...
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 Nic...
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...
Training Can Increase Empathy
24 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
A particular type of meditation training led study subjects to become more altruistic. Christie Nich...
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. ...
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 scen...
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 oth...
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-p...
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. Christi...
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 m...
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 repor...
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 Nicho...
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. Chris...
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. Ch...
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 ar...
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. Chris...
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 sp...
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 b...
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 ...
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 Nicho...
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 N...
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 T...
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) Tr...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 N...
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...
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 attr...
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 op...
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. ...
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 p...
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. Christi...
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....
When the Bride Has Doubt
16 Sep 2012
Contributed by Lukas
New research finds that prenuptial doubt predicts marital separation, especially when that doubt com...
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....
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....
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...
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. Ch...
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 fro...
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 Ni...
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...
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...
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 repo...
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 difficult...
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 fac...
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 accura...
Testosterone Promotes Aggression Automatically
09 Jun 2012
Contributed by Lukas
New research suggests that testosterone may make us more aggressive without us consciously feeling a...
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." C...
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 fe...