Psychology news

• Are we hardwired to just focus on negative thoughts?

  05-01-2016 19:53 via wsj.com
  
  In a world dominated by negativity, finding the positive is anything but easy, but science shows it's well worth the effort.
  
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• Parkinson's disease: New insights into a traveling protein

  05-01-2016 19:31
  In Parkinson's disease, the protein 'alpha-synuclein' aggregates within neurons of patients and appears to propagate across interconnected areas of the brain. How this happens remains largely unknown. It has been proposed that alpha-synuclein may behave like a 'prion.' However, recent findings reveal that pathology caused by alpha-synuclein does not necessarily involve prion-like seeding. Instead, it could be triggered by enhanced alpha-synuclein expression and trans-neuronal passage of monomeri
  
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• Put the cellphone away: Fragmented baby care can affect brain development

  05-01-2016 19:27
  Mothers, put down your smartphones when caring for your babies! That's the message from researchers, who have found that fragmented and chaotic maternal care can disrupt proper brain development, which can lead to emotional disorders later in life.
  
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• Wage gap could explain why women are more likely to be anxious and depressed than men

  05-01-2016 18:00
  
  Women may internalize wage gap as reflective of perceived inferior merit. The odds of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder were markedly greater among women who earned less...
  
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• UT study: 'Born this way' beliefs may not be the key to reducing homophobia

  05-01-2016 18:00
  
  In recent years, the argument that sexual orientation is innate has become a principal component of the advocacy for the rights of sexual minorities.
  
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• Mental Synthesis experiment could teach us more about our imagination

  05-01-2016 18:00
  
  While there is general consensus that the ability to imagine a never-before-seen object or concept is a unique and distinctive human trait, there is little that we know about the neurological...
  
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• Changes in brain connectivity protect against developing bipolar disorder

  05-01-2016 18:00
  
  Naturally occurring changes in brain wiring can help patients at high genetic risk of developing bipolar disorder avert the onset of the illness, according to a new study led by researchers at the...
  
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• DNA repair enzyme identified as a potential brain cancer drug target

  05-01-2016 17:23
  When they removed Dicer from preclinical models of medulloblastoma, a common type of brain cancer in children, researchers found high levels of DNA damage in the cancer cells, leading to the cells’ death. The tumor cells were smaller, and also more sensitive to chemotherapy, they report.
  
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• Schizophrenia gene traced in chicken study

  05-01-2016 16:18
  Mood-based disorders are one of the top-ten causes of disability worldwide. However the genes underpinning these disorders have proven to be remarkably elusive, say investigators.
  
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• Wage gap could explain why women are more likely to be anxious, depressed than men

  05-01-2016 16:17
  The odds of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder were markedly greater among women who earned less than their male counterparts, with whom they were matched on education and years of experience. Among women whose income was lower than their male counterparts, odds of major depression were nearly 2.5 times higher than men.
  
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• Brain can be trained to regulate negative emotions, study shows

  05-01-2016 16:17
  A simple, computer-training task can change the brain's wiring to regulate emotional reactions, according to a recent study. The researchers hope to examine the impact of this non-emotional training on individuals who are depressed or anxious. It may also be helpful for those at high risk of developing high blood pressure reactions to emotional information.
  
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• Social networks as important as exercise and diet across the span of our lives

  05-01-2016 15:00
  
  The more social ties people have at an early age, the better their health is at the beginnings and ends of their lives, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  
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• The ugly consumer: Ridiculing those who shop ethically

  05-01-2016 14:00
  
  No one wants to knowingly buy products made with child labor or that harm the environment.
  
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• Going booze-free? The effects of a month without alcohol

  05-01-2016 12:59
  
  With the start of another new year, people are once again swearing off alcohol for at least a month, often for charity. What are the potential effects of suddenly cutting all alcohol from your system?Alcohol. It’s a popular social lubricant, provides pleasure, and often tastes nice. It also has long term health consequences, and imposes a heavy burden on our society. Overall, it’s a mixed blessing.At present it’s becoming ever-more fashionable, even charitable, to abstain from
  
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• The neuroscience of 'happy' and 'sad' jazz improvisation

  05-01-2016 09:00
  
  Musical creativity is one of the most mysterious abilities of the human brain. A study scanning the brains of jazz musicians gives new insights.
  
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• Do you need financial therapy?

  05-01-2016 07:00
  
  Stuck in debt, constantly overspending or not saving? Perhaps professional help could change your attitude to money. Our writer tries it outWhether it’s anxiety about paying the bills, guilt at spending, or feelings of inadequacy over our income, polls frequently show money to be a leading source of worry, and one of the main causes of rows between couples. Even the rich aren’t immune, according to Capgemini’s annual World Wealth Report, with top concerns for millionaires in 20
  
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