Archive for June, 2008

‘Directed Thinking’ Increases Time Spent Exercising

Monday, June 30th, 2008

“Directed Thinking” involves asking people to think about information related to a topic that they already know which directs them to action.

Mechanism and function of humor identified by new evolutionary theory

Monday, June 30th, 2008

Research identifies the reason humor is common to all human societies, its fundamental role in the evolution of homo sapiens and its continuing importance in the cognitive development of infants

Portable device effective in zapping away migraine pain

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

A novel electronic device designed to “zap” away migraine pain before it starts has proven to be the next form of relief for those suffering from the debilitating disease

Scientists find how neural activity spurs blood flow in the brain

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

Newfound mechanisms could bolster understanding of brain imaging, aging’s effects

Are you a different person when you speak a different language?

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

People who are bicultural and speak two languages may actually shift their personalities when they switch from one language to another, according to new research in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Morbid thoughts whet the appetite

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

Can watching TV news or crime shows trigger overeating? According to new research in the Journal of Consumer Research, people who are thinking about their own deaths want to consume more.

Study shows ‘being fat in today’s world’ invites social discrimination

Friday, June 27th, 2008

Obese people feel “a culture of blame” against them, which they say has been made worse by media reports about the health risks of obesity

Study uncovers how Ritalin works in brain to boost cognition, focus attention

Friday, June 27th, 2008

Ritalin fine-tunes the functioning of neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) – a brain region involved in attention, decision-making and impulse control

Neuroscientists discover a sense of adventure

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

Scientists have identified a key region of the brain which encourages us to be adventurous

The high cost of low status: Feeling powerless leads to expensive purchases

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

Feeling powerless can trigger strong desires to purchase products that convey high status