-
It’s Not a ‘Stream’ of Consciousness
The New York Times: IN 1890, the American psychologist William James famously likened our conscious experience to the flow of a stream. “A ‘river’ or a ‘stream’ are the metaphors by which it is most naturally described,” he wrote. “In talking of it hereafter, let’s call it the stream of thought, consciousness, or subjective life.” While there is no disputing the aptness of this metaphor in capturing our subjective experience of the world, recent research has shown that the “stream” of consciousness is, in fact, an illusion. We actually perceive the world in rhythmic pulses rather than as a continuous flow. ...
-
QUIZ SCORES GO UP WHEN STUDENTS FEEL PHYSICS
Futurity: Students who physically experience scientific concepts understand them more deeply and score better on science tests, according to a new study. Brain scans showed that students who took a hands-on approach to learning had activation in sensory and motor-related parts of the brain when they later thought about concepts such as angular momentum and torque. Activation of these brain areas was associated with better quiz performance by college physics students who participated in the research. ...
-
A New Twist on a Classic Puzzle
“A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?” Take a minute to think about it … Do you have the
-
Narrow Misses Can Propel Us Toward Other Rewards and Goals
Whether it’s being outbid at the last second in an online auction or missing the winning lottery number by one digit, we often come so close to something we can “almost taste it” only to lose out in the end. These “near wins” may actually boost our motivation to achieve other wins, leading us to pursue totally unrelated rewards, according to new research in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. “Our research suggests that at least in some cases, losing has positive power.
-
Want to be an optimist? Pick up these positive habits
CNN: Ever notice how some people just seemingly have a bright outlook on life -- even when everything isn't exactly on the sunny side? You know those people: They're the friends who have spilled coffee on their white shirt and still manage to have a nonchalant smile on their face. They're the co-workers who make a big faux pas during a morning presentation and are still in a good mood at lunch. They look at the upside of life but they still live in reality. ... Many of us are often our own worst critics, but positive individuals have learned to embrace themselves exactly as the are. Research shows self-acceptance could be vital to a happier life.
-
When Clothing Style Influences Cognitive Style
It’s common knowledge that clothes have a strong influence over the way other people perceive us; you may be talented and qualified, but sweatpants at a job interview probably won’t communicate your ambition to a potential boss. But clothes don't just shape the way other people see us. New research from a team of psychological scientists from California State University, Northridge and Columbia University finds that the clothes we wear can also influence the way we think. Across five experiments, study authors Michael Slepian, Simon Ferber, Joshua Gold, and Abraham Rutchick found that dressing to impress enhanced people’s ability to engage in abstract thinking.
