Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
It takes two to tutor a sparrow
It may take a village to raise a child, and apparently it takes at least two adult birds to teach a young song sparrow how and what to sing.
Copenhagen 'backup' group meets
Legislators from 16 major economies meet to hammer out climate policies ahead of December talks in Copenhagen.
Jock the Vote: Election Outcomes Affect Testosterone Levels in Men
On election night last year, testosterone levels dropped rapidly among male voters of losing parties. [More]
New UK study suggests minimal relationship between cannabis and schizophrenia or psychosis
Last year the UK government reclassified cannabis from a class C to a class B drug, partly out of concerns that cannabis, especially the more potent varieties, may increase the...
Looking For The Origins Of Music In The Brain
Music serves as a natural and non-invasive intervention for patients with severe neurological disorders to promote long-term memory, social interaction and communication. However, there is currently no plausible explanation of...
Concern over alcohol use among UK South Asians
Alcohol use in South Asians in the UK is under-recognised, and alcohol related harm is disproportionately high, warn researchers in an editorial published on BMJ.com today.
Fear of discrimination saw Paddys and Biddys decline
The Durham and Northumbria Universities study, both based in the UK, suggests that a fear of prejudice made the Irish immigrants steer clear of giving their children Irish Catholic names,...
Sugar cereals are 'Smart Choices'? FDA not so sure
(AP) -- Ever wondered how that "Smart Choices" sticker wound up on the front of Froot Loops or Cocoa Puffs?
Could drugs for mood disorders, pain and epilepsy cause psychiatric disorders later in life?
Young animals treated with commonly-prescribed drugs develop behavioural abnormalities in adulthood say researchers at Georgetown University Medical Centre. The drugs tested include those used to treat epilepsy, mood disorders and...
Prolonged thumb sucking in infants may lead to speech impediments
Using a pacifier for too long may be detrimental to your child's speech. Research published in the open access journal BMC Pediatrics suggests that the use of bottles, pacifiers and...
Latino toddlers lag in cognitive growth
(PhysOrg.com) -- Two new studies led by University of California, Berkeley, researchers find that immigrant Latina mothers, who typically live in poor neighborhoods, give birth to healthy babies, but their...
Gender Schemas Affect Women in Science, Says Expert
(PhysOrg.com) -- Gender equity expert Virginia Valian discusses women's advancement in the STEM disciplines.
Cosmic Log: How to snoop into a personality
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Your personality is on display in all the stuff you leave behind, but sometimes it takes a skilled "snoopologist" to know what to look for.
Social memory in Drosophila
Positive social interactions exist within Drosophila: when in a group, Drosophila flies have better memory than when they are isolated. Thomas Preat's team at the Laboratoire de Neurobiologie (CNRS, France)...
Googling Fights Dementia, Study Suggests
Using search engines may help stave off dementia and memory loss among older people, according to a new report. During the study, key areas of Web newbies' brains were activated after regular Googling.
'Virtual students' go to school without being in school
Eleventh-grader Philip Marten's second-hour class is orchestra. But first hour, third hour, fourth hour and the rest of his school day are spent not at school but at home in...
Giving kids braces earlier not always better
The trend toward outfitting kids with braces at an ever-younger age isn't always effective and could even lead to a second round of braces in the awkward teenage years, studies...
People can control their Halle Berry neurons
Researchers pinpoint individual brain cells that respond to particular people, objects
Scientists Find A Precision Clock Logging the Milliseconds Inside Your Brain
Though we do it without thinking, keeping track of time is integral to the brain's function, keeping our senses and our actions ordered in a chronology that we then recall in the...
Think what you eat: Studies point to cellular factors linking diet and behavior
New research released today is affirming a long-held maxim: you are what you eat -- and, more to the point, what you eat has a profound influence on...
Widespread Use Of Teleradiology Services Could Be Declining
Researchers have found recent evidence that shows the growth of external, off-hours teleradiology services has slowed in recent years, despite a significant increase in the number of radiology practices using...
Media source impacts ag biotech communication
Communication between the public and government is a necessary component of public trust. For many modern issues, constituents trust that their legislators understand the science behind these topics and pass...
BBC's cooling tower smokescreen blown away by Trust ruling
A complaint lodged by a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry last year has led to Panorama having its knuckles rapped by the BBC Trust for inaccurately portraying cooling...
Doctors warn against fertility kits
• Family planning by home kits 'can raise false hopes' • Study links egg reserve analysis with IVF success
How Does Media Exposure Affect Self-esteem In Overweight And Underweight Women?
Overweight women's self-esteem plummets when they view photographs of models of any size, according to a new study. And underweight women's esteem increases, regardless of models' size.
Out of the mouths of babes
Were balloon boy Falcon Heene's words a sign of a hoax or a kid's confusion? Child behavior experts say they could be either -- or both. As investigators consider whether to file felony...
Confidence May Not Be Convincing When Recommending Products Or Services
Sometimes people can gain influence by expressing uncertainty, according to a new study.
Will This Trip Be Exciting? Consumers Respond Best To Vacation Ads That Match Current Emotions
Most of us won't respond to the call of adventure while soaking in a relaxing bath. According to a new study, we're more likely to book a weekend at a...