Psychiatry724 articles archived since 1845

Hungry for Meaning: Why Tofu Burgers Taste Better than You'd Expect

The brain recognizes food-based illusions on multiple levels

Why do we use facial expressions to convey emotions?

Fish Oil Studies Show a Mixed Bag of Effects

In recent studies fish oil supplements seemed to lower breast cancer risk in women, raise colon cancer risk in mice and have no effect on Alzheimer's. Cynthia Graber reports

Soothing Traumatized Children

Coloring books developed by psychologists help kids avoid long-lasting emotional problems

When Mom Has Favorites

Children who receive unequal treatment are more likely to grow into depressed adults

Babies on the Edge

When they learn to walk, toddlers must figure out their limitations all over again

Mice Prefer Treats They Worked Harder to Get

Mice had to work 15 times harder to get one treat over another of equal quality. They then preferred the labor-intensive treat when both were freely available. Karen Hopkin reports

Study of Facebook Users Connects Narcissism and Low Self-Esteem

If your status update was "I'm so glamorous," you might not really think much of yourself

Could a dose of arthritis medication prevent postsurgical memory loss?

Like people, mice sometimes show signs of general confusion and memory loss after surgery. Common major (noncardiac) procedures, such as orthopedic operations, can lead to postsurgical cognitive decline in some seven to 26 percent of patients...

Calendar: MIND events in November and December

Museum exhibits, conferences and events relating to the brain

Telltale Heart: Word Association Test Reveals If Love Will Last

A test of hidden attitudes predicts relationship decay

Beware of Brain Differences in the Sexes

A recent review advises us to beware of the gender differences found in brain-imaging studies. Christie Nicholson reports

Dream States: A Peek into Consciousness

Although we rarely remember our nighttime reveries, they may hold the key to consciousness

Some depression might have roots in immune-generated inflammation

NEW YORK—The immune system works hard to keep us well physically, but might it also be partly to blame for some mental illnesses?

"The immune system may play a significant role in the development of depression," Andrew Miller, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine, said Tuesday at a symposium on neuroscience and immunology at the New York Academy of Sciences...

Presto! Introducing the November 2010 Scientific American MIND

Editor in Chief Mariette DiChristina discusses the highlights of the issue

Clear New Insights into the Genetics of Depression

Recent findings suggest novel paths to treatment

Generosity Might Keep Us Healthy

Psychologist Liz Dunn spoke with us from the PopTech conference in Camden, Maine, about the link between greed and long-term health. Christie Nicholson reports

How much money was your doctor paid by a drug company?

It's no secret that many doctors get paid by pharmaceutical companies to talk to other docs—about general conditions, research trends or specific drugs—or to provide expertise for company research...

Controlling the Brain with Light

With a technique called optogenetics, researchers can probe how the nervous system works in unprecedented detail. Their findings could lead to better treatments for psychiatric problems

It's Not Dementia, It's Your Heart Medication: Cholesterol Drugs and Memory

Why cholesterol drugs might affect memory