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In Praise Of Play
The Huffington Post: Robin Williams once said, "The world is open for play." But how often, in the midst of the daily grind, does it really feel that way? When we measure our lives in to-do lists and devote every moment to being productive, play, of course, falls by the wayside. Living in a culture of busyness, productivity and overwork, we condition our brains to do things in order to get them done; to always achieve, accomplish, finish, check off. Even when we do pursue fun, adventurous experiences, it's often for the purpose of ticking them off of a bucket list. Our disdain for play, silliness and pure nonsense is even reflected in our vocabulary.
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New Research From Clinical Psychological Science
Read about the latest research published in Clinical Psychological Science: Dysfunctional Activation of the Cerebellum in Schizophrenia: A Functional Neuroimaging Meta-Analysis Jessica A. Bernard and Vijay A. Mittal The cognitive dysmetria framework posits that the deficits seen in schizophrenia are the result of cerebello-thalamo-cortical dysfunction.
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A “Green” Office May Beat a “Lean” Office
A widely held design philosophy in the businesses world stipulates that a “lean office” with clear desks and plain walls will help streamline business operations and maximize productivity. However, a new study from an international team of researchers has found that sprucing up the office with a little greenery may actually enhance employee engagement and could even boost performance at the office.
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Are You Really an Introvert? Extrovert?
The Huffington Post: It is very hip to label yourself an introvert. Part of this is due to the well-researched, profound, well-written treatise by Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. If you haven't read it, you are in for a treat (and for some strange reason, it costs less than $3 on Amazon). Let's correct some misconceptions. Introversion is not about a preference to be alone. It's not about being anxious around other people. It is not about being overwhelmed by cortical activity in the absence of stimulation. Essentially, introversion is about deriving less reward from being the center of social attention.
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Sense of Humor Changes With Age
The Atlantic: There’s an episode in the first season of The Office in which Michael Scott, the tactless boss, is asking his female employees to serve as cheerleaders for an upcoming company basketball game. When the heavyset Phyllis says she’ll do it, Michael reflexively says, “Oh yuck, that’s worse than you playing.” He then tries to rescue the crack with, “because we need you as an alternate.” According to a new study published in the journal Psychology and Aging, this type of humor is exactly the kind you should never deploy around the elderly.
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Humans use dominant hand as a constant perceptual ‘ruler’
Zee News: London: People tend to perceive their dominant hand as staying relatively the same size even when it is magnified, supporting the idea that we use our hand as a constant perceptual "ruler" to measure the world around us, says a study. This suggests that our bodies are used as perceptual metrics, meaning that we are more likely to attribute changes in the perceived size of the hand to changes in the world. Read the whole story: Zee News
