3 Articles on Teratogens That Affect Prenatal and postnatal Development: The Zika Virus, Lead, and Alcohol Exposure TITLE Article #1: Scientists Investigate How Viruses Like Zika Cause Birth Defects DESCRIPTION The Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes and is believed to be the cause of thousands of cases of microcephaly around the world. A serious… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Psychology Update
Psychology Update — 5 Freaky Facts About Nightmares
TITLE 5 Freaky Facts About Nightmares Science demystifies your creepiest nighttime visions. DESCRIPTION Researchers made use of correlation and case study reports to collect common themes that are classified as nightmares. Nightmares are viewed as highly emotionally intense states that often wake up the dreamer and are reported as worse than just a bad dream. … Read more »
Psychology Update — Can You Get Smarter?
TITLE Can You Get Smarter? DESCRIPTION The author asks “Can you get smarter by exercising — or altering — your brain?” This extensive review article poses the question after pointing out that cognitive decline may begin, normally, by the late 50s or early 60s. He also notes that there are a number of programs, websites,… Read more »
Psychology Update — New Approach Advised to Treat Schizophrenia
TITLE New Approach Advised to Treat Schizophrenia DESCRIPTION In a significant new research study on recovery from a first epicode of schizophrenia, the subjects were given an alternative treatment program that emphasized lower doses of antipsychotic medication, social supports, and talk therapy. “First, help with work or school such as assistance in deciding which classes… Read more »
Psychology Update — Does Mindfulness Make for a Better Athlete?
TITLE Does Mindfulness Make for a Better Athlete? DESCRIPTION This is an article that discusses an original study wherein BMX (bicycle) athletes were given mindfulness training exercises. The small study established a baseline to a stress response through a brain scan technique. The researchers recorded those areas of the brain that responded to the stress… Read more »
Psychology Update — The Fascinating Link Between Placebo and Antidepressants
TITLE The Fascinating Link Between Placebo and Antidepressants DESCRIPTION Researchers gave placebo drugs to a group of depressed patients and measured the effects of the placebo on alleviating the depression; the subjects were told that the placebo was a new antidepressant. In the following time period following the use of the placebo, the subjects were… Read more »
Psychology Update — Research: Face-to-face socializing more powerful than phone calls, emails in guarding against depression in older adults
TITLE Research: Face-to-face socializing more powerful than phone calls, emails in guarding against depression in older adults DESCRIPTION The study asked the question as to whether face to face contact (in person) between family members ameliorated the risk of developing depression as compared to contact through other forms of communication (written, social media, phone, and… Read more »
Psychology Update — A Child’s Lifelong Self-Esteem
TITLE A Child’s Lifelong Self-Esteem Emerges Earlier Than We Thought Children may form a sense of their “overall goodness” by preschool DESCRIPTION Psychology has taught that self-esteem develops through out childhood. A new study reports that a child’s self-esteem may establish itself by kindergarten age of about 5 years old. “So for their study, Cvencek… Read more »
Psychology Update — Limited Video Game Time Could Help Kids With ADHD, Study Suggests
TITLE Limited Video Game Time Could Help Kids With ADHD, Study Suggests DESCRIPTION Can a video game help a child with ADHD. A preliminary pilot study suggests that “30 minutes of gaming helped improve kids’ working memory and levels of attention.” The game requires that the child force himself to focus in this situation and… Read more »
Psychology Update — Optical Illusion: The Waterfall Effect
TITLE New York: An Optical Illusion at the Marathon: The Waterfall Effect — Video DESCRIPTION VIDEO TO WATCH From the article: “Test yourself with this video. The waterfall effect is a subtle optical illusion that sometimes happens to marathon fans. After someone cheers for runners for a long time, stationary objects may appear to move.”… Read more »
Psychological Science: The Curious Mind
Abnormal Psychology, 15th Edition DSM-5-TR Update
Behavioral Neuroscience
Personality, 15th Edition
Cognition, 11th Edition
