Tag Psychology

Language can reveal the invisible, study shows

August 26, 2013

It is natural to imagine that the sense of sight takes in the world as it is - simply passing on what the eyes collect from light reflected by the objects around us.

Hormones may usher abused girls into early adulthood

July 19, 2013

During the sort of tense situation that makes palms sweat and voices quaver, children and young adults are typically awash in cortisol, a stress hormone that sounds an alarm and prepares the body for fight-or-flight responses to danger.

Passionate, student-focused psychology instructor Hendricks dies

March 12, 2013

Bryan Hendricks, who became a student favorite during 12 years as an instructor in the University of Wisconsin–Madison Psychology Department, died Friday morning at age 66 following an illness that had recently forced his retirement.

Psychology prof studies what’s behind candidates’ smiles

October 22, 2012

As she was watching the first presidential debate, psychology Professor Paula Niedenthal couldn't help but notice something odd about Barack Obama's smile.

Pacifiers may have emotional consequences for boys

September 18, 2012

Pacifiers may stunt the emotional development of baby boys by robbing them of the opportunity to try on facial expressions during infancy.

Stress breaks loops that hold short-term memory together

September 13, 2012

Stress has long been pegged as the enemy of attention, disrupting focus and doing substantial damage to working memory - the short-term juggling of information that allows us to do all the little things that make us productive.

Study pinpoints Ritalin’s influence

January 5, 2012

Millions of individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are helped by methylphenidate, the stimulant better known as Ritalin. Now researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have pinpointed the area of the brain in which Ritalin does its work.

Psychologist to explain 3-D perception to National Geographic audience

October 7, 2011

Bas Rokers, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, will illustrate how our brains process visual motion and depth during the three-part National Geographic television series "Brain Games."

Study: Advantages of single-sex schooling a myth

September 22, 2011

As Madison deals with a proposal to establish a single-sex charter school, a University of Wisconsin–Madison professor of psychology is one author of an article that calls the scientific case for single-sex schools "pseudoscience."

Forum considers human consciousness

April 20, 2011

The 10th annual International Bioethics Forum, Manifesting the Mind, will explore perspectives on human consciousness at its two-day symposium April 28-29.

Noted primate researcher to discuss animal research

March 25, 2011

On Tuesday, March 29, University of Wisconsin–Madison psychology professor Charles Snowdon will discuss his decades of research on a small new-world monkey called the cotton-top tamarin.

New perspective diminishes racial bias in pain treatment

March 7, 2011

Years of research show black patients getting less treatment in the American health care system than their white counterparts, but a new study suggests that a quick dose of empathy helps close racial gaps in pain treatment.

Banking on predictability, the mind increases efficiency

November 22, 2010

Like musical compression saves space on your mp3 player, the human brain has ways of recoding sounds to save precious processing power.

Peace of mind closes health gap for less educated

October 25, 2010

Psychological well-being is powerful enough to counteract the pull of socioeconomic status on the long-term health of the disadvantaged, according to a study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Large study shows females are equal to males in math skills

October 11, 2010

The mathematical skills of boys and girls, as well as men and women, are substantially equal, according to a new examination of existing studies in the current online edition of journal Psychological Bulletin.

For first time, monkeys recognize themselves in the mirror, indicating self-awareness

September 29, 2010

Typically, monkeys don't know what to make of a mirror. They may ignore it or interpret their reflection as another, invading monkey, but they don't recognize the reflection as their own image. Chimpanzees and people pass this "mark" test - they obviously recognize their own reflection and make funny faces, look at a temporary mark that the scientists have placed on their face or wonder how they got so old and grey.

Monkey generosity: No strings attached

July 13, 2010

Among monkeys that split child care responsibilities, sharing extends to dinnertime, but grudges do not, according to research published July 14 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Hormone study finds monkeys in long-term relationship look strangely human

July 12, 2010

Monkeys in enduring relationships show a surprising correspondence in their levels of oxytocin, a key behavioral hormone, according to research published online June 28 in the journal Hormones and Behavior.