Psychology news

• Towards a new theory of sleep

  30-03-2016 23:44
  Research shines new light on what goes on in the brain when we're not awake. Contrary to the generally accepted theory of why we sleep, the new work shows that homeostatic rebalancing doesn't occur during sleep; instead, it happens exclusively when animals are awake and active, leading to the question of what actually happens, then, when we are sleeping.
  
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• FOMO: It's your life you're missing out on

  30-03-2016 19:56
  “You missed out.” Is there another sentence that could strike such anxiety in the hearts of young people? Known as FOMO in millennial-speak, fear of missing out is quickly taking a toll on Generation Y—and it’s probably causing damage to your own life.
  
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• Even seizure-free, children with epilepsy can face social problems as adults

  30-03-2016 19:54
  Learning difficulties and behavioral problems during childhood can lead to suboptimal social and educational outcomes among young adults with childhood epilepsy even when their seizures are well under control and their disease in remission, according to findings from a study.
  
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• Why neural stem cells may be vulnerable to Zika infection

  30-03-2016 19:52
  Zika's hypothesized attraction to human neural stem cells may come from its ability to hijack a protein found on the surface of these cells, using it as an entryway to infection. Researchers show that the AXL surface receptor, normally involved in cell division, is highly abundant on the surface of neural stem cells, but not on neurons in the developing brain.
  
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• Suffer from anxiety? Try a sensory deprivation tank

  30-03-2016 19:21
  
  Developed in the 1950s by a psychologist interested in hallucinogenic drugs, sensory deprivation tanks are now back in vogueWhen was the last time you really stopped running around and just stood still? At a time when work, endless emails and a million distractions vie for our attention, the idea of taking time to just be present is more popular than ever.
  This is where sensory deprivation flotation pools come in. Flotation pools promise to give that stillness back to you, even if you have never
  
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• Birth control pills may increase risk of seizures

  30-03-2016 18:45
  Could certain types of hormonal contraceptives cause an increase in seizures in women with epilepsy? A recent study suggests that ethinyl estradiol, the primary component of oral contraceptives, could be detrimental to the epileptic brain.
  
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• Scientists discover new way to tackle challenging children’s brain tumors

  30-03-2016 18:41
  Scientists have discovered why a curable type of children's brain tumor is so responsive to chemotherapy -- paving the way to improve treatment of tumors that are harder to tackle, according to research.
  
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• Rat study reveals long-term effects of adolescent amphetamine abuse on the brain

  30-03-2016 18:29
  A study of rats given regular, high doses of amphetamine finds that those exposed to the drug at an age corresponding to human adolescence experience long-term changes in brain function that persist into adulthood. The study found that amphetamine leads to changes in dopamine signaling. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in memory, attention, learning and feelings of pleasure.
  
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• Neuronal feedback could change what we 'see'

  30-03-2016 18:29
  A study quantifies feedback between neurons in different parts of the visual system, which could give new insight into the visual system's neuronal circuitry and possibly explain why we see optical illusions.
  
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• Dynamic connections in the brain

  30-03-2016 18:29
  Functional connections in the brain change over time in ways that are only now beginning to be appreciated. In the field of neuroscience, there is a new approach to studying the brain known as human connectomics. This dynamic model of studying the brain and its moment-to-moment variations is what researchers now present in a new article.
  
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• Genome-wide association study of cannabis dependence

  30-03-2016 17:00
  
  Cannabis dependence is a serious problem worldwide and it is of growing importance in the United States as marijuana becomes increasingly legal.
  
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• Drama therapy: unlocking the door to change

  30-03-2016 17:00
  
  People with a range of mental health and social challenges can benefit from drama therapy, which taps into people's innate creativity to enable new ways of being.
  
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• Study looks at why people may feel more helpless in stressful situations than others

  30-03-2016 16:28
  Some people are able to cope with stress much better than others. Some individuals are resilient, while others succumb to despair. The reason, scientists have discovered, is all in the brain.
  
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• Mild TBI linked to eye movement impairment

  30-03-2016 15:47
  Mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) could be linked to eye movement impairment, even beyond the acute stage of injury, according to researchers. These findings indicate a potentially more effective way to identify long-term chronic effects on those with mild TBI.
  
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• Narcissism linked to sexual assault perpetration in college, study finds

  30-03-2016 15:00
  
  Almost 20 percent of college men have committed some kind of sexual assault, and 4 percent have committed rape, according to a study published by University of Georgia researchers who were...
  
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• Psychotherapy for depressed rats shows genes aren't destiny

  30-03-2016 12:00
  
  Genes are not destiny in determining whether a person will suffer from depression, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. Environment is a major factor, and nurture can override nature.
  
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• Memory encoding may be influenced by expectation

  30-03-2016 12:00
  
  Scientists propose an expectancy theory of memory that suggests we encode features of observed scenes in memory without necessarily linking them, unless we have a reason to do so.
  
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• Three ways to inspire hunger and commitment in your team

  30-03-2016 10:25
  
  Setting challenging goals does no good without a realistic understanding of the pain, challenge and difficulty required to achieve them. Are you willing to do what it takes to achieve your goals this year? That’s a question that I’m not sure is always asked by leaders or employees when they are setting annual objectives. But I mean REALLY do what it takes. Because it might mean working incredibly long hours, being away from family, making tough decisions against a backdrop of uncerta
  
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• Uncertainty is more stressful than pain, say neurologists

  30-03-2016 10:00
  
  Most of us are familiar with the idea that uncertainty causes stress, but now research has quantified it, also suggesting that stress can be useful when it comes to judging risks.
  
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• The universal 'not face' gives clues to the evolution of language

  30-03-2016 09:00
  
  Facial expressions predate language and still play a vital part in everyday communication. New research uncovers the universal 'not face' and its integration in verbal language.
  
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• Study finds training with unpredictability improves memory recall

  30-03-2016 09:00
  
  Findings could lead to better cognitive training for those at risk of dementia.
  
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• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

  30-03-2016 09:00
  
  Premenstrual dysphoric syndrome (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome. Learn about the symptoms, causes and treatment options for PMDD here.
  
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