a blog by Wray Herbert
The Mind of a Misanthrope
I become misanthropic every February. I avoid social gatherings, and really just want to hole up at home. I always assumed it was the dark evenings and slippery sidewalks and general misery of venturing outside. Or not until cold and flu season is over, more accurately. New research suggests that my anti-social ways may have little to do with friendliness or lack of it.
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22nd Annual Convention
May 27-30, 2010
Boston, MA
Complete your APS Convention registration before March 31 and enjoy the early price discounts.
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Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear. Sylvia Plath stuck her head in the oven. Were these artists simply mad or brilliant?
Maybe both! The results of a new study show a clear link between neuregulin 1 (a gene normally involved in proper brain functioning) and creativity: Volunteers with a specific variant of this gene (a variant that has been linked with greater risk of developing mental disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) had higher scores on a creativity assessment and also more lifetime creative achievements than volunteers with a different form of the gene. Click here to read more about the link between psychosis and creativity. |
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 The Science of Hollywood Blockbusters
Who are your favorites to win at this year's Oscars? New research from psychologist (and film buff) James Cutting may help explain what it takes to be an Oscar-worthy movie.
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 Facebook Profiles Mirror Personality
Whether you update your status constantly, or post hundreds of cute kitten videos, research shows that online profiles, like Facebook, reflect the user's personality fairly acurately.
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 Stop Blaming Your Grades on Your Learning Style
Are you a verbal learner or a visual learner? Chances are you've pegged yourself as one or the other. Find out whether scientific research supports the existence of different learning styles.
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 Show Me the Money...For Stress Relief
Next time you feel stressed, reach for your wallet. A study found that counting money reduced suffering felt by volunteers who felt socially excluded to a greater extent than handling ordinary paper.
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 Meditation Soothes the Soul and Trains the Brain
Meditation has been practiced for centuries, as a way to calm the soul and bring about inner peace. Did you know that there is evidence that a specific method of meditation may temporarily boost our visuospatial abilities?
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 Good Lamps Are the Best Police
Darkness may bring out bad behavior. Researchers found that people are more likely to act dishonestly in dark rooms than in brightly-lit rooms. This research gives a whole new meaning to "shady behavior."
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Questions? Comments? Please email apsobserver@psychologicalscience.org
Want more? Check out previous issues of the Observer Express. |
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