Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
Alternative Theory Of Information Processing In The Cortex
With remarkable precision, neurons in the sound-processing part of the brain's cortex fire electrochemical pulses or "spikes" in sync with cues they receive from other neurons. Neuroscientists have demonstrated that...
Risk And Reward Compete In Brain: Imaging Study Reveals Battle Between Lure Of Reward And Fear Of Failure
Imaging study follows on previous lesion studies to pinpoint regions of brain involved in risk management: finds that individuals' response to risk and reward can be gauged from activity in...
Climbing Everest, K2 makes you dumb -- sort of
A study of professional mountain climbers has shown that high-altitude exposure can cause subtle white and grey matter changes to the area of the brain involved in motor activity, according...
Emotion and scent create lasting memories -- even in a sleeping brain
When French memoirist Marcel Proust dipped a pastry into his tea, the distinctive scent it produced suddenly opened the flood gates of his memory. read more
New research shows that the smell of smoke does not trigger relapse in quitters
Research into tobacco dependence published online today in the November issue of Addiction, has shown that recent ex-smokers who find exposure to other people's cigarette smoke pleasant are not any...
Economics Concept Explains Brain Mystery
Economic theory is revealing how information flows through the brain
Lawmakers need good scientific information too
Getting science into policymaking is challenging — but a recent workshop for African parliamentary researchers suggested new ways forward.
Farmers bring foot-and-mouth case
Fourteen farmers affected by last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak in England are to sue two labs and the government.
Portable Imaging System Will Help Maximize Public Health Response To Natural Disasters
Researchers have developed a low-cost, high-resolution imaging system that can be attached to a helicopter to create a complete and detailed picture of an area devastated by a hurricane or...
Human Brain Still Awake, Even During Deep Sleep
Sleep in humans is divided in two main phases: non-REM sleep, which occupies most of our early sleep night, and REM sleep, during which our dreams prevail. Non-REM sleep is...
Early Exposure To Drugs, Alcohol Creates Lifetime Of Health Risk
Is it bad kids who do drugs, or doing drugs that makes kids bad? The answer is "both." People who began drinking and using marijuana regularly prior to their 15th...
New Program Will Train Nurses in Forensics
The Connell School of Nursing in Boston will launch a new graduate program to educate nurses in forensics so they can address both the health and legal needs of victims...
Income gap between whites, Latinos has grown at four-year colleges
(PhysOrg.com) -- Over the past three decades, the income disparity between Latino and non-Hispanic white students entering four-year colleges and universities has increased fourfold, with the difference in median household...
At the magical age of eight, belief synchs with behavior
(PhysOrg.com) -- I think I can, I think I can. Believe. You can fly if you just believe. I won't die if you just believe.
NJ flu-shot mandate for preschoolers draws outcry
(AP) -- As flu season approaches, many New Jersey parents are furious over a first-in-the-nation requirement that children get a flu shot in order to attend preschools and day-care centers....
Negative Political Ads Elicit Fear and Anxiety
Barack Obama and John McCain both accused each other, rather ironically, of negative campaigning.
Brain's reaction to yummy food may predict weight
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Drink a milkshake and the pleasure center in your brain gets a hit of happy - unless you're overweight. It sounds counterintuitive. But...
Scientists clash over wolves' endangered status
Legal and academic wrangling sees biologists accused of "crying wolf".
Persuading Novice Voters With Abstract Or Concrete Messages: Timing Is Everything
Political commentators and opinion page writers criticized Barack Obama for his lack of specifics, yet voters continued to respond to his message. Obama's reliance on lofty rhetoric has succeeded thus...
Bush Signs NASA Authorization Bill into Law
U.S. President Bush as signed an act into law authorizing an extra shuttle flight.
Paul G. Rogers, ‘Mr. Health’ in Congress, Is Dead at 87
Mr. Rogers was called Mr. Health by his fellow congressmen for his leading role in passing dozens of measures promoting health care and the environment.
A Good Appetite: Fit to Be Stuffed
Lacking the cult status of ripe summer tomatoes or the esoteric cachet of watermelon radishes and purslane, peppers may be one of the season’s least celebrated vegetables.
Dr. Allan Rosenfield, Women’s Health Advocate, Dies at 75
Mr. Rosenfield, a dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, became a leading advocate for women’s health during the global H.I.V./AIDS epidemic.
Webcams get you in the picture
Q. I am finally getting a grandchild - so I want to give my son and his wife and myself a webcam for Christmas so that I can see this...
Experts seek cure to global hunger
(AP) -- Much of the world today is consumed by fears of recession and unemployment. But for nearly a billion people, the fear is more basic - having nothing...
Cosmic Log: Visualizing politics
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Computer wizards are serving up a whole new set of tools for visualizing political trends — and starting conversations.
Election blackout renegades could dodge prosecution
Elections officials will investigate people who illegally publicized early vote results only if they receive a written complaint.
VIDEO: Women Pray for Dog-Style Births
Believing dogs have easy pregnancies and births, pregnant Japanese women pray at shrines on the Day of the Dog in hopes of having "canine" birth experiences.