Psychology news

• Surprise role for dopamine in social interplay

  11-02-2016 20:40
  The chemical signal dopamine plays an unexpected role in social interactions, new research shows. In mice, nerve cells in the brain that release dopamine became particularly active in animals kept on their own for a short time.
  
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• Novel neuroprotective therapy found to enhance memory

  11-02-2016 20:20
  New research highlights the neuroprotective potential of a peptide developed at the university, and the marked difference in nerve cell communication in male and female mice. If researchers come to understand how the protein acts differently in each sex, drugs for potential therapeutics can be optimized to treat both autism and Alzheimer's disease.
  
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• Why smiles (and frowns) are contagious

  11-02-2016 20:04
  Smile! It makes everyone in the room feel better because they, consciously or unconsciously, are smiling with you. Growing evidence shows that an instinct for facial mimicry allows us to empathize with and even experience other people's feelings. If we can't mirror another person's face, it limits our ability to read and properly react to their expressions.
  
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• Social animals seek out the company of others because their brains are wired to find it rewarding

  11-02-2016 20:04
  Social animals are strongly motivated to seek out the company of others, especially after periods of isolation, because their brains are wired to find it rewarding. A study now reveals a neural circuit that mediates social seeking behavior driven instead by a loneliness-like state. By shedding light on the neuroscience of isolation, the findings could help our understanding of social anxiety and autism spectrum disorders.
  
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• Memory ensembles: To preserve its memories, the brain must regulate its neural networks

  11-02-2016 20:04
  For over forty years, neuro-scientists have been interested in the biological mechanisms underlying the storage of the information that our brain records every day. Today, a team of researchers demonstrates how the brain regulates the size of the neuronal ensembles that reflect the memory trace to optimize performance. By targeting neurons in the hippocampus, the scientists show that it is possible to inhibit -- or on the contrary to resurface -- a memory.
  
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• Will you be turning left or right for that Valentine’s Day kiss: It’ll depend on who you’re kissing!

  11-02-2016 19:36
  As Valentine's Day approaches, love is in the air. One sure-fire way to express love towards someone, be it a partner or even a child, is with a kiss. A recent study in Laterality demonstrates how the direction turned during a kiss differs depending on whether the kiss is shared between romantic partners or between a parent and child.
  
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• Neuroscience: Dark things are conveyed faster than light things

  11-02-2016 14:27
  ”Did something move over there?“ Everyone has experienced this situation. One is looking towards a sound source, but with the best will in the world, one cannot detect an object. Only its sudden movement, even if minimal, allows its immediate perception. Scientists have investigated this phenomenon and show for the first time how simultaneous counterchange of luminance at the borders between object and background triggers activity waves in the visual brain. These waves may constitute
  
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• Narcissists not necessarily satisfied with themselves

  11-02-2016 14:00
  
  Narcissists feel superior to others but aren't necessarily satisfied with themselves.
  
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• The perils of writing about sex: 'Your partner will think it's about them. Or – even worse – someone else'

  11-02-2016 08:00
  
  Should you use exotic euphemisms or anatomical detail? Should it be comical, tender or shocking? And what if your mum reads it? Three generations of writers reveal the pitfalls – and pleasures – of writing about erotic encountersMost of the time, sex is not fully serious, nor fully romantic, and to pretend so feels unconvincingI want readers to find erotic scenes enjoyable – and the best way to achieve that is to write something I find appealingA 79-year-old friend told me, for
  
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• Refugee mental health needs could overwhelm

  11-02-2016 05:44 via foxnews.com
  
  Agencies are increasingly asking refugees about their emotional state as part of initial health screenings which is something not done in years past.
  
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• Pregnancy may help soothe PTSD symptoms in at-risk women

  11-02-2016 05:43 via foxnews.com
  
  Researchers hope their results will encourage providers to make PTSD screening part of their regular prenatal care.
  
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• Ebola still takes mental toll on West Africa's 'burial boys'

  11-02-2016 05:43 via wsj.com
  
  Few services are available for people who worked on front lines and are now ravaged by addiction and depression.
  
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• Your brain may work differently in winter than summer

  11-02-2016 05:41 via foxnews.com
  
  The way your brain works may vary from season to season, a new study suggests.
  
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• Weed users found to have poorer verbal memory in middle age

  11-02-2016 05:38 via cnn.com
  
  A recent study found current marijuana use was associated with poorer verbal memory and processing speed.
  
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