60-Second Mind

How to Enjoy Your Decision

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Wed, 8 May 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Green Spaces Promote Happier Communities

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Being Monkey in the Middle Is Stressful

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Tue, 2 Apr 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Mindfulness May Improve Test Scores

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Sun, 3 Feb 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Images of Thin Bodies Impact Body Preferences

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:08 -0500

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

Tue, 8 Jan 2013 11:10:08 -0500

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

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 21:34:08 -0500

Dan Ariely is a professor of behavior economics at Duke University. His latest book, The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty, explains how creativity makes us better liars--even to ourselves

Natural Setting and Tech Break Boost Creativity

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 07:00:08 -0500

Volunteers who spent at least four days hiking with no communications or computing technology scored higher on creativity tests upon their return than did a control group. Rose Eveleth reports

Civilian Trauma May Contribute to Combat PTSD

Sat, 8 Dec 2012 15:30:08 -0500

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

Bad Boys and Gals Present as More Attractive

Sun, 2 Dec 2012 07:00:08 -0500

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

When Old Habits Die Easy

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Tue, 6 Nov 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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 reports

Cash Rewards Might Make Us Unhappy

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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 quantifiable. Christie Nicholson reports

How We Process Horrible Sounds

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Helping Your Child Delay Gratification

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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 temptation. Christie Nicholson reports

When We Hear a Sound

Mon, 1 Oct 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 16:00:08 -0500

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

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Sun, 2 Sep 2012 11:00:08 -0500

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

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 15:00:08 -0500

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 Nicholson reports

Attitudes toward Sex Are Changing

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Wobbly Chairs May Affect Your Values

Sat, 4 Aug 2012 09:00:08 -0500

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

Some Multitasking Is More Taxing

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 09:00:08 -0500

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

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Lingering with a Decision Breeds More Indecision

Sun, 8 Jul 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Do We Care About Future Generations?

Mon, 2 Jul 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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 reports

Confusion Helps Us Learn

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

America Needs to Study Fractions

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Testosterone Promotes Aggression Automatically

Sat, 9 Jun 2012 10:00:08 -0500

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

Different Sports Require Different Motivation

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 00:00:08 -0500

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

Watching Shot Can Boost Pain

Sat, 26 May 2012 05:00:08 -0500

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 material. Rose Eveleth reports

Meat-Eating Is Viewed as More of a Man's Game

Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:08 -0500

A recent study finds that we tend to view meat consumption as being more masculine than vegetarianism. Christie Nicholson reports

When Pro-Vaccine Messaging Backfires

Sun, 13 May 2012 00:00:08 -0500

A recent study shows that strong pro-vaccine messaging might have an unintended impact. Christie Nicholson reports

Shut Off E-Mail to Ease Work Stress

Mon, 7 May 2012 17:34:08 -0500

Workers who turned off their e-mail had lower stress and did less multitasking compared with co-workers who left their in-boxes open. Sophie Bushwick reports

Keeping Secrets Weighs You Down, Literally

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:08 -0500

New research finds that keeping a secret can make you feel as if you are physically burdened. Christie Nicholson reports

If We Feel Too Busy, It's Probably Due to Having Too Much Free Time

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:00:08 -0500

A forthcoming study finds that keeping busy with selfless tasks greatly expands our perception of how much time we have. Christie Nicholson reports

Men Who Hold a Gun Appear Taller and Stronger

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:00:08 -0500

Research finds that men are perceived to be strong and large if they are carrying a deadly weapon. Christie Nicholson reports

We Tend to Underestimate How Much We Weigh

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 00:00:08 -0500

New research has found significant discrepancies between how much people think they weigh and how much they actually weigh. Christie Nicholson reports

Ability to Learn Is Affected by the Timing of Sleep

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:00:08 -0500

Researchers find that how soon we sleep after learning new information impacts how well we retain it. Christie Nicholson reports

Mind Wandering Is Linked to Your Working Memory

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 12:00:08 -0500

A new study has found a strong correlation between how much your mind wanders and your working memory capacity. Christie Nicholson reports

How to Gain Self-Control

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:00:08 -0500

New research finds a relatively simple method to increase your capacity for self-control. Christie Nicholson reports

Hunger Affects What We See

Sun, 4 Mar 2012 00:00:08 -0500

When our body needs something, like food, the brain tends to open a fast track for perceiving that specific thing. Christie Nicholson reports

Dehydration Affects Women's Moods

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:00:08 -0500

Two recent studies find that dehydration not only affects your body but your mood as well. Christie Nicholson reports

Why Online Dating Doesn't Work

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:00:08 -0500

A team of psychologists reviewed online dating sites and their conclusions are not promising. Christie Nicholson reports

If Time Is Money, Then Free Time Is Frustrating

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:00:08 -0500

If we think of time as money, we might be undermining our ability to enjoy free time. Christie Nicholson reports

More Than One Blow for a Concussion in Football

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 22:00:08 -0500

A recent study shows that it's multiple blows to the head that lead to a concussion in football. Christie Nicholson reports

How the Itch Informs the Scratch

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:00:08 -0500

Research finds that where the itch begins says a lot about how bad it is--and how pleasurable the scratch. Christie Nicholson reports

Lack of Sleep Might Make You Feel Hungrier

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:08 -0500

Extreme lack of sleep might make one more susceptible to food imagery, making us feel hungrier than we actually are. Christie Nicholson reports

Men Spend the Big Bucks When Women Are Scarce

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:00:08 -0500

A recent study finds that when men perceive that there are few women, they'll spend more money. Christie Nicholson reports

Cognitive Decline Sets in around Age 45

Sun, 8 Jan 2012 10:00:08 -0500

A new study finds that the inevitable cognitive decline we all face starts earlier than we originally thought. Christie Nicholson reports

The Elderly React Slowly Because They Want to Be Right

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:00:08 -0500

Recent studies have found that the elderly may respond more slowly to specific tasks, but not because their cognitive skills are slower. Christie Nicholson reports

Toddlers Don't Monitor Their Own Speech

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:00:08 -0500

Adults and children hear their own voice and use it as feedback to monitor their speech, but it seems that young toddlers do not. Christie Nicholson reports

A Quirk of Speech May Become a New Vocal Style

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:00:08 -0500

What used to be thought of as a symptom of a speech disorder might now be a hot trend in vocal style among rock stars and young women. Christie Nicholson reports

Individuals Are Removed from Blame When in Groups

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:00:08 -0500

A recent study has found that we do not tend to hold individual members of a group responsible for their individual actions. Christie Nicholson reports

Killing 1 Person to Save 5

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 14:00:08 -0500

Researchers test a famous ethical dilemma called the "trolley problem" in a very real setting. Christie Nicholson reports

Dreams Help Soothe Your Bad Memories

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:00:08 -0500

Research finds that dreams may help consolidate and soothe troubled memories and experiences. Christie Nicholson reports

Protein Might Ward Off Afternoon Snooze

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:39:08 -0500

Glucose can block brain cell secretion of orexin, which keeps us alert. But amino acids can stop that block. Christie Nicholson reports

How We View Half-Naked Men and Women

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:08 -0500

Research finds that scantily-clad women and men are judged in similar ways. Christie Nicholson reports

Brains Built to Cooperate

Sun, 6 Nov 2011 00:00:08 -0500

Research finds support for the theory that brains excel when we cooperate. At least in duet-singing wrens. Christie Nicholson reports

Be Afraid, but Not Too Afraid

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:00:08 -0500

Halloween reminds us that we love to be scared. But too much of anything is not good. Christie Nicholson reports

Are Men Funnier Than Women?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:08 -0500

A new study finds that the humor gap between the sexes is more stereotype than reality. Christie Nicholson reports

Body Language Improves Our Communication

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:00:08 -0500

Recent research finds that body language significantly improves how well we are understood by our audience. Christie Nicholson reports

Young Children Think Differently about Ownership

Sun, 9 Oct 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Research shows that young children tend to think that naturally occurring objects like pinecones or rocks cannot be owned. Christie Nicholson reports

Clothing Reveals Racial Stereotypes

Sat, 1 Oct 2011 11:00:08 -0500

A study in the journal Public Library of Science ONE finds that many judge race based on types of clothing. Christie Nicholson reports

Speech Disorders May Be Helped Using Rhythm and Familiar Words

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:08 -0500

Singing therapy is often used to restore fluency to sufferers of speech disorders due to stroke. Recent research found, however, it may not be the singing itself that helps. Christie Nicholson reports

Scientists Find a New Way to Measure Pain

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:08 -0500

Scientists have been searching for an accurate way to measure pain beyond a patient's self-report, but to no avail. A recent study might have found one possible solution. Christie Nicholson reports

Musicians Maintain Hearing Better

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:14:08 -0500

A hearing study of experienced musicians found they had a better chance than non-musicians of avoiding the hearing loss associated with aging. Christie Nicholson reports

Overeating Depends on Context

Sat, 3 Sep 2011 10:00:08 -0500

Research has found that ritual and context influences us to eat too much with no regard for quality. Christie Nicholson reports

Global Survey Links Religion and Happiness

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 00:00:08 -0500

An analysis of the Gallop World Poll finds that there is an association with religion and increased happiness, but only in societies that lack adequate social support. Christie Nicholson reports

Ability for Mathematics May Be Inborn

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:08 -0500

Children who have a good sense of numbers also tend to have a talent for arithmetic, even before formal training. Christie Nicholson reports

Spoiling the Ending Makes for a Better Story

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:00:08 -0500

Research has found that giving away the best part of a story at the beginning actually makes it more enjoyable. Christie Nicholson reports

More Football Players Found to Suffer from Degenerative Disease

Sun, 7 Aug 2011 00:00:08 -0500

The Canadian Sports Concussion Project announced the results from brain autopsies of four CFL football players. Two of the players suffered from the degenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Christie Nicholson reports

Panic Attack Sufferers Are Unaware of Symptoms

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 11:00:08 -0500

Panic attacks seem to come out of nowhere, but research finds symptoms appear up to one hour before the sufferer is aware of the attack. Christie Nicholson reports

Compulsive Gamblers Combine Impulsiveness with Irrationality

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 13:33:08 -0500

Compulsive gamblers seeking treatment were more impulsive and more likely to be superstitious than were non-gamblers. Steve Mirsky reports

Hot Baths May Cure Loneliness

Sat, 2 Jul 2011 10:00:08 -0500

Recent research finds that taking a hot bath can cure loneliness. Christie Nicholson reports

Paying in Cash Keeps Us Healthy

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 09:00:08 -0500

Recent research finds that our vices can be held back when we use cash instead of credit cards at the grocery store. Christie Nicholson reports

Small Study: Young Gang Members Want Dogs Mostly for Companionship

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 04:00:08 -0500

A study of 25 young gang and group members in South Wales found that they wanted dogs less as weapons or protection and mostly for companionship and socialization. Steve Mirsky reports

Inattentional Blindness Can Make You Not Perceive Events

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:00:08 -0500

Research finds that a cop who testified that he ran past a beating without seeing it could be telling the truth. Christie Nicholson reports

Math Learning Disability as Common as Dyslexia

Sat, 4 Jun 2011 00:00:08 -0500

Research has found that dyscalculia, a learning disability focused around number and math concepts, is as common as dyslexia. Christie Nicholson reports

The Blind Use the Visual Cortex to Process Sound

Sat, 28 May 2011 10:00:08 -0500

Recent research has confirmed that in blind subjects who use echolocation to navigate, it is the visual part of the brain that processes the auditory echoes. Christie Nicholson reports

Rude People Can Be Perceived as Powerful

Sun, 22 May 2011 10:00:08 -0500

Powerful people often bend the rules, so if someone is a rule-breaker could they be perceived as powerful? Christie Nicholson reports

How to Speak Persuasively

Sat, 14 May 2011 17:16:08 -0500

Discover how to successfully persuade others with these findings from a recent study on speech. Christie Nicholson reports

Know Thyself

Sat, 7 May 2011 16:00:08 -0500

A recent review paper shows that we might not know ourselves as well as we think. Christie Nicholson reports

First Impressions Can Be Quite Accurate

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:00:08 -0500

A study about the perception of neighborhoods reveals that our gut instinct based on the physical features of the neighborhood is highly accurate. Christie Nicholson reports