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“Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning” by Gary Marcus
The Washington Post: As a teenager, Gary Marcus wanted to be a scientist. Two decades later, as a professor of cognitive psychology at New York University, he wanted to learn to play the guitar. And, more important, he wanted to understand how he was learning it. In “Guitar Zero,” Marcus uses his musical midlife crisis to frame a discussion of the science of adult learning and music’s effect on the human brain. For the past couple of decades, developmental psychologists have believed that complex skills, such as playing an instrument, are best acquired during brief windows of time, usually in early childhood, when the brain is more malleable.
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How to completely, utterly destroy an employee’s work life
The Washington Post: Recall your worst day at work, when events of the day left you frustrated, unmotivated by the job, and brimming with disdain for your boss and your organization. That day is probably unforgettable. But do you know exactly how your boss was able to make it so horrible for you? Our research provides insight into the precise levers you can use to re-create that sort of memorable experience for your own underlings. Over the past 15 years, we have studied what makes people happy and engaged at work. In discovering the answer, we also learned a lot about misery at work. Our research method was pretty straightforward.
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How Well Do We Really Remember A Crime Scene?
Smithsonian: Imagine that, upon arriving home one day, you spot someone trying to break into your house. When you shout, the thief suddenly flees. Being the vigilante type, you decide to pursue him, racing down the street and climbing over a fence. Unfortunately, the thief gets away, but a few hours later, police call you to report they’ve apprehended someone nearby on suspicion of a similar crime. Called into the station, you’re asked to identify the criminal from a lineup. Can you do it? A new study published in Psychological Science suggests that, no matter how sharp you think your memory is, you might not do as well as you think.
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Change Your Hand, Change Your Mood!
ABC Radio Brisbane: Do you have anger management problems? Do you yell at other drivers on the road or feel a swell of rage when people jump queues? Help may be at hand. Dr Thomas Denson from the University of New South Wales, School of Psychology says practicing skills with your non-dominant hand can help exercise your self control muscle. Afternoons presenter Kelly Higgins-Devine spoke with Dr Denson. Listen to the story: ABC Radio Brisbane
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Forget the Money, Follow the Sacredness
The New York Times: In the film version of “All the President’s Men,” when Robert Redford, playing the journalist Bob Woodward, is struggling to unravel the Watergate conspiracy, an anonymous source advises him to “follow the money.” It’s a good rule of thumb for understanding the behavior of politicians. But following the money leads you astray if you’re trying to understand voters. Self-interest, political scientists have found, is a surprisingly weak predictor of people’s views on specific issues. Parents of children in public school are not more supportive of government aid to schools than other citizens.
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Does your mind wander while performing daily tasks?
From CBC News: If you're having trouble reading the entirety of this article without your mind wandering off, it might actually be a good thing. Just stay with us for a moment. According to a new study published in the journal Psychological Science, people whose minds wander during minor tasks have a greater amount of working memory. University of Wisconsin-Madison News describes working memory as "a sort of a mental workspace that allows you to juggle multiple thoughts simultaneously." The report was written by the university's Daniel Levinson and Richard Davidson, as well as Dr. Jonathan Smallwood of the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany.
