Cognition Essential Reads

The Neuroscience of Fearful Memories and Avoidance Behaviors

By Christopher Bergland on February 20, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
Neuroscientists have identified how the brain remembers fearful experiences. And how fear-based memories can lead to avoidance behaviors.

Are Refugees a Threat to Americans?

Are refugees a threat to the safety of Americans? Research suggests we needn't be afraid.

Flat Earthers: Belief, Skepticism, and Denialism

By Joe Pierre M.D. on February 19, 2017 in Psych Unseen
Kyrie Irving thinks the world is flat. Or does he?

Declinism: Why You Think America is in Crisis

Is America really on the brink of disaster? Studies show most people feel things are bad and getting worse. Declinism, based on cognitive bias, explains why.

Do Nervous Dog Owners Have Nervous Dogs?

By Stanley Coren Ph.D., F.R.S.C. on February 16, 2017 in Canine Corner
Dog owners who have more neurotic personalities tend to have dogs who are nervous and cope with stress less efficiently, a new study finds.

So You Think You Can Dance?

By Lydia Denworth on February 14, 2017 in Brain Waves
What makes a woman a good dancer? The hips don't lie.

People Mistrust Science in General, But Not Specific Studies

By Art Markman Ph.D. on February 13, 2017 in Ulterior Motives
This has been a difficult era for science in the public eye. How does the uncertainty of science affect people's trust in it?
wikipedia/wikipedia

What Does It Take to Be Truly Happy?

By Joshua Knobe on February 13, 2017 in Experiments in Philosophy
Ever wonder what it means to be truly happy? New research suggests there may be more to it than just feeling good.

Motor Skills, Movement, and Math Performance Are Intertwined

By Christopher Bergland on February 10, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
There is growing evidence that children who are physically active do better in school. A new study found that kids who move their bodies while learning math get higher test scores.

Small World, Isn’t It?

By Po Chi Wu Ph.D. on February 08, 2017 in Jacob's Staff
Do you believe that innovative design principles can affect behavior?

Why We Are Underprepared for Disasters

Why do we repeatedly fail to prepare for natural disasters despite improvements in risk analysis, engineering, and meteorology?

How Do You Decide Things Are Getting Worse?

By Art Markman Ph.D. on February 07, 2017 in Ulterior Motives
Lots of things in life happen in sequences. How much evidence do you need to decide that something fundamental has changed?

Seeking Idea Sparks

By Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on February 06, 2017 in Our Innovating Minds
What helps us as inspiration seekers?

How Do Neuroplasticity and Neurogenesis Rewire Your Brain?

By Christopher Bergland on February 06, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
A groundbreaking new study has identified how the birth of new neurons (neurogenesis) combined with neuroplasticity can rewire the brain and reshape the mind.

3 Simple Steps to Boosting Your Brainpower

By Michelle Braun Ph.D, ABPP-CN on February 03, 2017 in Ageless
The secret to improving your memory and reducing your risk of Alzheimer's is closer than you think.

Is Neuroscience the Future or the End of Psychology?

By David Ludden Ph.D. on February 02, 2017 in Talking Apes
Neuroscience has become the dominant paradigm in psychology. Some think it will even replace psychology altogether.
Paul Nunez

Is the Brain More Than the Sum of Its Parts?

Emergence: How can a brain be more that just a bunch of interacting nerve cells?

Who's Responsible for My Emotional Experience?

By Laura Niemi, Ph.D. on February 01, 2017 in Morality in Language
Our cognitive models of events are like little moral dramas with toy agents and patients acting according to stereotyped scripts about typical causes.

Crowd Size, Line Length, and Conformity

By Ira Hyman Ph.D. on January 30, 2017 in Mental Mishaps
When you quietly agree with the statements of a group, how does conforming change you? Can you retain your original views? Does conforming alter the way you see the world?

What’s Wrong With Conflicts of Interest?

By Paul Thagard Ph.D. on January 30, 2017 in Hot Thought
Conflicts of interest easily arise in government, science, and medicine. Cognition-emotion interactions in the brain lead people to violate their professional responsibilities.

President Trump: Here Are Actual Facts About Sex

By Marty Klein PhD on January 25, 2017 in Sexual Intelligence
There are opinions about sex, and facts about sex. Here are some facts to help Mr. Trump govern us.

You Have the Right to Remain Silent

By David Ludden Ph.D. on January 24, 2017 in Talking Apes
The Miranda ruling was intended to protect the innocent from making false confessions. But does it work?

Seeing Is Believing: Religion, Madness, & Mechanism

Mentalism conflicts with mechanism in both religion and art.

Your Own Voice Can Influence Your Perception of Speech

We all differ in how fast we speak but how does this affect our hearing? A new study shows that talking at a fast rate yourself can change how you perceive another talker’s vowels.

The Brain Can Work Against Abuse Victims

By Rhonda Freeman Ph.D. on January 18, 2017 in NeuroSagacity
The neurochemistry of love and attachment, particularly in the presence of abuse, can seal a victim to a grim future with a malignant partner.

Supporting Bilingual Children With Special Education Needs

Despite what has been maintained for too long, children with developmental disabilities can indeed become bilingual, or remain bilingual if they have grown up with two languages.

Is This the Surprising Way Couples Will Become Less Insular?

By Bella DePaulo Ph.D. on January 18, 2017 in Living Single
The community that was creating and honoring “families of choice” long before the concept became broadly familiar may be the one to transform coupling.

Specific Anchors Are Sometimes Good When Negotiating

By Art Markman Ph.D. on January 17, 2017 in Ulterior Motives
One of the biggest cognitive influences on any negotiation is the anchor. Some research suggests that specific anchors can benefit sellers in negotiations. Is that always true?

This One Behavior Can Increase Your Risk of Cheating

There is, in fact, a dark side to traveling abroad.
Google Images (for reuse)

The Dimwitted, Dull, Crude, Stupid Non-Human Neandertals

Why do journalists only present one side of the Neandertal story? Why is the presentation of brain differences and their cognitive implications so scary for science writers?