News tagged with behavioral science


Brain can be trained in compassion, study shows

Until now, little was scientifically known about the human potential to cultivate compassion—the emotional state of caring for people who are suffering in a way that motivates altruistic behavior.

Psychology & Psychiatry created May 22, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 6 | with audio podcast

Antidepressant reduces stress-induced heart condition

A drug commonly used to treat depression and anxiety may improve a stress-related heart condition in people with stable coronary heart disease, according to researchers at Duke Medicine.

Cardiology created May 21, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Genetic predictors of postpartum depression uncovered

Johns Hopkins researchers say they have discovered specific chemical alterations in two genes that, when present during pregnancy, reliably predict whether a woman will develop postpartum depression.

Psychology & Psychiatry created May 21, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Enhanced motion perception in autism may point to an underlying cause of the disorder

Children with autism see simple movement twice as quickly as other children their age, and this hypersensitivity to motion may provide clues to a fundamental cause of the developmental disorder, according ...

Autism spectrum disorders created May 08, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Studies show women find men more attractive if they hold a guitar

(Medical Xpress)—Two independent studies have found that women find men more attractive if they are holding a guitar. The first one, conducted by researchers in France was based on a young man asking strangers ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created May 08, 2013 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (4) | comments 14 | with audio podcast report

PTSD research: Distinct gene activity patterns from childhood abuse

Abuse during childhood is different. A study of adult civilians with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) has shown that individuals with a history of childhood abuse have distinct, profound changes in gene activity patterns, ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created May 01, 2013 | popularity 4 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Pigment in the eye found to be key between obesity, vision loss

"Eat your veggies" has been an admonition of parents through the ages, but newly published brain research from the University of Georgia provides one of the best reasons why.

Health created Apr 26, 2013 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 1

New study gives insight into why some people diversify resources and others conserve

(Medical Xpress)—Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Most of us have heard this old adage applied to many of life's decisions, from planting crops, to dating, to buying stock. Spread your resources to ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Apr 26, 2013 | popularity 4 / 5 (10) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

UCSB researcher studies hormone levels and sexual motivation among young women

Feeling frisky? If so, chances are greater your estrogen level –– and, perhaps, fertility –– are hitting their monthly peak. If not, you're more likely experiencing a profusion of desire-deadening progesterone, and ...

Medical research created Apr 25, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Infants' sweat response predicts aggressive behavior as toddlers

Infants who sweat less in response to scary situations at age 1 show more physical and verbal aggression at age 3, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Scienc ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Apr 23, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Teens' brains are more sensitive to rewarding feedback from peers

Teenagers are risk-takers—they're more likely than children or adults to experiment with illicit substances, have unprotected sex, and drive recklessly. But research shows that teenagers have the knowledge and ability to ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Apr 17, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Most effective PTSD therapies are not being widely used, researchers find

Post-traumatic stress disorder affects nearly 8 million adults in any given year, federal statistics show. Fortunately, clinical research has identified certain psychological interventions that effectively ameliorate the ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Apr 11, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Low on self-control? Surrounding yourself with strong-willed friends may help

the resolve to skip happy hour and go to the gym instead, to finish a report before checking Facebook, to say no to the last piece of chocolate cake. Though many struggle to resist those temptations, new research suggests ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Apr 09, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Mental illness a frequent cell mate for those behind bars

(HealthDay)—Eugene King ran away from home at the age of 16, the start of a lifelong pattern of drug abuse, crime and incarceration.

Psychology & Psychiatry created Apr 05, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Varenicline reduces depressive mood, craving and reward value of cigarettes when smokers attempt to quit, study reports

Smokers have a higher probability of quitting smoking and a better overall cessation experience when taking varenicline compared to bupropion and to placebo – unmedicated assisted smoking cessation –according to a study ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Mar 27, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0