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Lonely People Are More Likely to See Doll Faces as Human
The Atlantic: For social animals like humans, the health cost of loner-dom can be high—depression, high blood pressure, and an increase in stress hormones have all been linked to a lack of social connection. Previous research has also shown that when people are feeling lonely, they are better at cooperating and are more sensitive to emotions and social cues. But a new, small, weird study published in Psychological Science suggests that the isolated may cast about too wildly for companionship, leaving them with a lowered ability to tell if a face is alive or not. Researchers at Dartmouth College and Harvard University showed a group of 30 students a series of 90 faces.
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Children can learn to control their powerful sweets cravings: study
CTV News: For children, the lure of cookies and fast food is distinctly more powerful than for adolescents and adults, although children's cognitive wiring is well suited to train such cravings, according to researchers hailing principally from Columbia University. "These findings are important because they suggest that we may have another tool in our toolbox to combat childhood obesity," says psychological scientist and lead researcher Jennifer A. Silvers, a post-doctoral fellow at Columbia University in the laboratory of Professor Kevin Ochsner.
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In Praise Of Play
The Huffington Post: Robin Williams once said, "The world is open for play." But how often, in the midst of the daily grind, does it really feel that way? When we measure our lives in to-do lists and devote every moment to being productive, play, of course, falls by the wayside. Living in a culture of busyness, productivity and overwork, we condition our brains to do things in order to get them done; to always achieve, accomplish, finish, check off. Even when we do pursue fun, adventurous experiences, it's often for the purpose of ticking them off of a bucket list. Our disdain for play, silliness and pure nonsense is even reflected in our vocabulary.
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New Research From Clinical Psychological Science
Read about the latest research published in Clinical Psychological Science: Dysfunctional Activation of the Cerebellum in Schizophrenia: A Functional Neuroimaging Meta-Analysis Jessica A. Bernard and Vijay A. Mittal The cognitive dysmetria framework posits that the deficits seen in schizophrenia are the result of cerebello-thalamo-cortical dysfunction.
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A “Green” Office May Beat a “Lean” Office
A widely held design philosophy in the businesses world stipulates that a “lean office” with clear desks and plain walls will help streamline business operations and maximize productivity. However, a new study from an international team of researchers has found that sprucing up the office with a little greenery may actually enhance employee engagement and could even boost performance at the office.
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Are You Really an Introvert? Extrovert?
The Huffington Post: It is very hip to label yourself an introvert. Part of this is due to the well-researched, profound, well-written treatise by Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. If you haven't read it, you are in for a treat (and for some strange reason, it costs less than $3 on Amazon). Let's correct some misconceptions. Introversion is not about a preference to be alone. It's not about being anxious around other people. It is not about being overwhelmed by cortical activity in the absence of stimulation. Essentially, introversion is about deriving less reward from being the center of social attention.
