How Children Learn Language
Children learn language for the first time in a cool way, and the good news is that adults can, too. Find out how.
Read MoreTag: psychology
Magic Makers: Art Therapy for Neuropsychiatric Patients
Art therapy may help adults with mild cognitive impairment feel happier and more empowered—and slow the progress of cognitive decline.
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Why People Are Drawn to Fictional Villains
Why do people love some fictional villians more than heros? Much like the villains themselves, the answer is complex and, well, interesting.
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Favorite Songs Link Up to Attachment Styles
Attachment styles affect relationship dynamics and also, according to a new psychology study, an individual’s music preferences.
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The Science of Attractiveness
Does a person’s attractiveness go up when their availability goes down? Scientists decide to find out by taking a look at an old dating strategy.
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Why Do We Mistrust Science?
To most of us, uncertainty means not knowing. To scientists, uncertainty expresses how well something is known—and research reduces uncertainty.
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Cat Videos Boost Energy, Good Feelings
Do you get a warm, fuzzy feeling after watching cat videos online? If so, that emotional effect may be more profound than you realize. The Internet phenomenon of watching cat videos, from Lil Bub to Grumpy Cat, apparently does more than simply entertain. It boosts viewers’ energy and positive emotions while decreasing negative feelings, according to a new study from Indiana University Media School. Can a Cat Video a Day Keep the Doctor Away? The study, by assistant professor Jessica Gall Myrick, surveyed almost 7,000 people about their viewing of…
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Can Brainprints Replace Passwords?
By Kate S. How many passwords do you keep track of? How many have you forgotten? According to researchers from Binghamton University, remembering lots of complicated codes may one day be a thing of the past. The unique way your brain responds to certain words could be used to replace passwords. Studying Brain Biometrics The research team monitored the brain signals of 45 volunteers as they read a list of 75 acronyms, such as FBI and DVD. They recorded the brain’s reaction to each group of letters, focusing on the…
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Family Support Needed for Future Scientists
Family support makes all the difference in bringing up the next generation of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, according to researchers at George Mason University. The researchers say that support from family is the primary factor in encouraging children to consider a future a science, with formal education playing a secondary role. The findings could shape public policy and encourage community-centered activities designed to foster a love of science. “We were surprised to learn that the family is more important than we ever thought in terms of igniting the passion of…
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Artificial Intelligence Creates Magic Tricks
Researchers working on artificial intelligence (AI) at Queen Mary University of London have taught a computer to create magic tricks, and audiences are enjoying the results. The research team is using magic tricks as a means of exploring what artificial intelligence can do. “Using AI to create magic tricks is a great way to demonstrate the possibilities of computer intelligence and it also forms a part of our research into the psychology of being a spectator,” says team member Peter McOwan, Professor of Computer Science. “For example, we suspected that…
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