Jays and Youngsters Solve Aesop Problem Similarly
Until kids are eight, they are only about equally good as European Jays at solving a problem outlined by Aesop. Sophie Bushwick reports
Cognition3113 articles archived since 1845
The Science Behind Your Health
The Science of Staying Well
Sports Psychologists Extend Their Counseling to Athletes' Coaches and Families
Mental trainers reach further to create the ideal environment for victory
Head Games
Match wits with the Mensa puzzlers
Revealing the Psychology of Playing Card Magic
A psychology researcher (and magician) explains what happens after you hear “think of a card”
High Trans-Fat Diet Predicts Aggression
People who eat more hydrogenated oils are more aggressive
New Pleasure Circuit Found in the Brain
A new understanding of how the brain generates pleasure could lead to better treatment of addiction and depression—and even to a new science of happiness
Some Multitasking Is More Taxing
Recent research finds that different forms of multitasking can impact our performance much more than others. Christie Nicholson reports
Online Chat at Noon EDT on Anxiety Disorders, with Scientific American's Maria Konnikova
As another disturbing week in U.S. news draws to a close, join us for a live online chat with Maria Konnikova, a Scientific American blogger and Ph.D. candidate in psychology at Columbia University, who will apply Sherlock Holmes-ian logic to our mental messes...
Why Is Everyone on the Internet So Angry?
A perfect storm engenders online rudeness, including virtual anonymity and thus a lack of accountability, physical distance and the medium of writing
Our Brains See Men as Whole and Women as Parts
Evolution might underlie the different processing of female versus male bodies. Both genders do it
Liars: It Takes One to Know One
New research suggests better liars are better at spotting lies
Attraction between Friends of Opposite Sexes
A recent survey finds considerable differences in how men and women view attraction between male and female friends
A Physicist on Everest: How Body and Mind Break Down at Elevation [Excerpt]
In his new book, physicist Francis Slakey recounts the myriad physical and mental challenges in summiting the world's highest peak
Does Thinking Really Hard Burn More Calories?
Unlike physical exercise, mental workouts probably do not demand significantly more energy than usual. Believing we have drained our brains, however, may be enough to induce weariness
Trying to Resist Temptation? Think about God
The new science of self-control shows that religious themes can bolster willpower
Early Intervention Could Help Autistic Children Learn to Speak
Follow-up study shows long-term language improvement for kids with autism after an intensive, targeted behavioral therapy program
Our Friends' Weight Influences Our Weight Gain and Loss
Research finds that who we socialize with can influence our eating behavior. Christie Nicholson reports
Eye Movements Do Not Reveal Lying
Multiple tests of eye-movement direction and honesty found no correlation between lying and eye direction. Steve Mirsky reports
Why Do We Say That Someone Is “Hot”?
Scientists are discovering the primal links between physical warmth and our emotions
