Psychology

  1. Brain

    Choosing shocks over contemplation

    Some people think being alone is unpleasant. In one new study, some found choosing to get a painful shock helped them endure being alone for 15 minutes.

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  2. Brain

    Loneliness can breed disease

    Everyone experiences loneliness from time to time. But when allowed to persist, loneliness can damage your health and steal years from your life.

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  3. Brain

    Fear prompts teens to act impulsively

    A new study finds that teens may act impulsively in the face of fear. This might help explain high rates of violence among such adolescents, the authors say.

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  4. Health & Medicine

    Sleep therapy for fears

    Scared? A nap spent inhaling the proper smell might relieve those fears, a study finds.

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  5. Brain

    The upside of cheating

    Many people assume that cheaters and thieves will secretly feel shame or guilt. A new study challenges that. It finds that people who cheat without causing anyone much harm actually enjoy a little buzz afterward.

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  6. Brain

    Teen fighting may harm IQ

    Blows to the head may explain these effects on the brain.

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  7. Brain

    Sweets on the brain

    Sugar-free sweeteners fool the body’s internal computer.

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  8. Animals

    Baboons detect bogus words

    Some monkeys know a real word when they see it.

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  9. Brain

    Lip-reading babies

    Before they start talking, babbling babies ‘read’ mouths.

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  10. Animals

    An elephant’s “aha!” moment

    A young elephant named Kandula passes a tricky test.

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  11. Health & Medicine

    A recipe for happiness

    Want to be happier? Recent studies show that science can help.

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  12. Psychology

    Pain expectations

    How painful you expect something to be beforehand can affect how you actually feel when you're hurt.

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