Features

• Depressingly Easy

  We nuke prepared dishes rather than growing our own food and machine-wash ready-made clothes rather than sewing and scrubbing. Such conveniences may be contributing to rising rates of depression by depriving our brains of their hard-earned rewards

  Kelly Lambert   | August 1, 2008  | 7

• Sleep on It: How Snoozing Makes You Smarter

  During slumber, our brain engages in data analysis, from strengthening memories to solving problems

  Robert Stickgold and Jeffrey M. Ellenbogen   | August 1, 2008  | 48

• Minding Mistakes: How the Brain Monitors Errors and Learns from Goofs

  Brain scientists have identified nerve cells that monitor performance, detect errors and govern the ability to learn from misfortunes

  Markus Ullsperger   | August 1, 2008  | 8

• The Hidden Power of Scent

  Far from being a weak and unimportant sense, our odor-detecting ability is surprisingly acute and shapes our social interactions in ways we do not consciously realize

  Josie Glausiusz   | August 1, 2008  | 2

• Animal Intelligence and the Evolution of the Human Mind

  Subtle refinements in brain architecture, rather than large-scale alterations, make us smarter than other animals

  Ursula Dicke and Gerard Roth   | August 1, 2008  | 33

• Gifted Children: How to Bring Out Their Potential

  Enrichment activities can provide for very bright kids

  Christian Fischer   | August 1, 2008  | 34

• High-Aptitude Minds: The Neurological Roots of Genius

  Researchers are finding clues to the basis of brilliance in the brain

  Christian Hoppe and Jelena Stojanovic   | August 1, 2008  | 31

• The Secrets of Storytelling: Why We Love a Good Yarn

  Our love for telling tales reveals the workings of the mind

  Jeremy Hsu   | August 1, 2008  | 22