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What It Means to Be ‘Touch-Starved’
… Touch communicates connection and caring “with crystal clarity to your brain in ways that words don’t,” said James A. Coan, a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and author of the forthcoming
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Why Does Orange Juice Taste Bad After You Brush Your Teeth?
It’s a mistake you hopefully only make once. In your morning rush to get ready, you brush your teeth before you head to the kitchen and down a big glass of orange juice. Yuck! What
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My Sense of Taste is Dulling as I Age. Can I Stop It?
All senses decline with age, but taste loss is surprisingly common. A 2016 study estimated that about three-fourths of older adults have taste issues — more than any other sensory deficit. … While short-term issues like congestion
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Why Memory Fails Us
Human sensory systems are almost as good as they can get, but memory is pretty fallible. We often misremember or downright can’t remember. Ours can’t hold a candle to artificial memory. But, there are plus
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Are Ultraprocessed Foods Really That Delicious?
I’m a Gen X-er, so ultraprocessed foods have been a mainstay of my diet since I was a kid. I was raised on bowls of sugary cereal, mac and cheese and instant ramen. I still
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The Myth of “Fight or Flight”
Lisa Feldman Barrett is professor of psychology at Northeastern University and author of How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain. In a recent Scientific American article, she asked whether the brain’s much-touted
