Psychology posts
- February 28, 2013
- 11:25 AM
- 200 views
Weaning Off Zoloft: Why Have Military Suicides Reached An All-Time High?
by Steven Talmadge in Life Mental Health
Weaning off Zoloft, or any other SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) or SNRI (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) is no walk in the park. What has been termed “SSRI Withdrawal/Discontinuation Syndrome” includes unpleasant symptoms that include confusion, tremors, realistic nightmares, and sensations of electrical shocks traveling from one’s head to one’s toes. These symptoms can be [...]The post Weaning Off Zoloft: Why Have Military Suicides Reached An All-Time Hig........ Read more »
Solai LK, Mulsant BH, & Pollock BG. (2001) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for late-life depression: a comparative review. Drugs , 18(5), 355-68. PMID: 11392444
- February 28, 2013
- 09:11 AM
- 183 views
The affordances of objects and pictures of those objects
by Andrew Wilson in Notes from Two Scientific Psychologists
People interested in how perception and action affect cognition have begun talking about affordances. This should be great news; the ecological approach suggests that affordances are the properties of the world that we perceive that enable us to control our actions, so if you are interested in how action can ground, say, memory or language, then discussing affordances should enable real progress. The term 'affordance', however, is a technical term, and it refers to very particular properties of ........ Read more »
Pecher, D., de Klerk, R., Klever, L., Post, S., van Reenen, J., & Vonk, M. (2013) The role of affordances for working memory for objects. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 25(1), 107-118. DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2012.750324
- February 28, 2013
- 04:59 AM
- 195 views
Why are older people less prone to mind wandering?
by Christian Jarrett in BPS Research Digest
Invite a group of older participants to a psychology laboratory to engage in computer-based mental tasks, and you'll find that their minds wander less often than the minds of young adults. This has been established many times by studies that interrupt participants mid-task to ask them what they're thinking about.
At first, the finding appears to be a conundrum. Older adults typically perform worse on cognitive tasks than younger people, and ageing is usually thought to have an adverse effect ........ Read more »
McVay, J., Meier, M., Touron, D., & Kane, M. (2013) Aging ebbs the flow of thought: Adult age differences in mind wandering, executive control, and self-evaluation. Acta Psychologica, 142(1), 136-147. DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2012.11.006
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- February 27, 2013
- 06:34 PM
- 128 views
Ep49 – The Future of Education
by Rohan in Psychobabble
Dr. Jason Tangen joins James, Zan and Rohan in discussing the history and traditions…, the current state of… and the future of institutional education. Despite being so utterly pervasive, our approaches to education sometimes lack rigorous and empirical support. Just how exactly can we teach ‘critical thinking skills’ and how do we know if we’ve…... Read more »
Diemand-Yauman, C., Oppenheimer, D., & Vaughan, E. (2011) Fortune favors the (): Effects of disfluency on educational outcomes. Cognition, 118(1), 111-115. DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2010.09.012
Englehart, J. (2007) The Centrality of Context in Learning from Further Class Size Research. Educational Psychology Review, 19(4), 455-467. DOI: 10.1007/s10648-006-9039-7
Keith, T., Diamond-Hallam, C., & Fine, J. (2004) Longitudinal Effects of In-School and Out-of-School Homework on High School Grades. School Psychology Quarterly, 19(3), 187-211. DOI: 10.1521/scpq.19.3.187.40278
Patall, E., Cooper, H., & Wynn, S. (2010) The effectiveness and relative importance of choice in the classroom. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102(4), 896-915. DOI: 10.1037/a0019545
Sungkhasettee, V., Friedman, M., & Castel, A. (2011) Memory and metamemory for inverted words: Illusions of competency and desirable difficulties. Psychonomic Bulletin , 18(5), 973-978. DOI: 10.3758/s13423-011-0114-9
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K., Marsh, E., Nathan, M., & Willingham, D. (2013) Improving Students' Learning With Effective Learning Techniques: Promising Directions From Cognitive and Educational Psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58. DOI: 10.1177/1529100612453266
- February 27, 2013
- 06:22 PM
- 159 views
SWAG: Do the ends justify the means?
by Psych Your Mind in Psych Your Mind
source
Every Wednesday afternoon, I gather with a bunch of faculty and graduate students at the University of Illinois to discuss a journal article about social psychology, and to eat a snack. This blog post reflects the discussion we had during this week's seminar affectionately called Social Wednesdays and Grub (SWAG).
Are you familiar with Watchmen? The popular graphic novel turned semi-popular summer blockbuster describes a deeply dystopian future in which Richard Nixon has been decl........ Read more »
Conway P, & Gawronski B. (2013) Deontological and utilitarian inclinations in moral decision making: A process dissociation approach. Journal of personality and social psychology, 104(2), 216-35. PMID: 23276267
- February 27, 2013
- 11:54 AM
- 134 views
Prozac Weight Gain: It’s More in the Brain Than the Body
by Steven Talmadge in Life Mental Health
Yes, researchers are finding that Prozac weight gain might occur more (metaphorically) in the brain than it does the body. While many people today remain obsessed with body image and weight loss, Prozac lists only the potential for Prozac weight loss, not Prozac weight gain, due to loss of appetite as one of the common [...]The post Prozac Weight Gain: It’s More in the Brain Than the Body appeared first on Life Mental Health.
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Maher AR, & Theodore G. (2012) Summary of the comparative effectiveness review on off-label use of atypical antipsychotics. Journal of managed care pharmacy : JMCP, 18(5 Suppl B). PMID: 22784311
- February 27, 2013
- 10:30 AM
- 181 views
Raising An Issue in Indian Psychology
by Neural Outlaw in Neural Interface
A recent literature search threw up an interesting-looking paper; a randomised controlled trial (RCT) on the effect of yoga on gunas (personality) in healthy volunteers (free to read). I was surprised as I rarely come across academic papers on yoga, that too with explicit reference to 'gunas' in the title. . I couldn’t help noticing at the outset that the study appeared to have been carried out at the Department of Yoga Research, Swami Vivekananda Anusandhana Samsthana, a deemed-to-be yoga uni........ Read more »
Deshpande Sudheer, Nagendra H R, & Nagarathna Raghuram. (2009) A randomized control trial of the effect of yoga on Gunas (personality) and Self esteem in normal healthy volunteers. International Journal of Yoga, 2(1), 13-21. PMID: 21234210
- February 27, 2013
- 10:00 AM
- 212 views
Fear of Loud Noises: A Common Problem in Domestic Dogs?
by CAPB in Companion Animal Psychology Blog
Do you have a dog that cowers at the sound of thunder, or comes running to you for comfort when the neighbours set off fireworks? A new study by Emily-Jayne Blackwell, John Bradshaw and Rachel Casey (University of Bristol) investigates how common this problem is.The study involved a questionnaire completed by 3,897 dog owners, and a structured interview with a smaller set of 383 dog owners. Dog owners were recruited in a variety of ways, including at dog shows, veterinary clinics, and whilst out........ Read more »
Blackwell, E.J.,, Bradshaw, J.W.S.,, & Casey, R.A. (2013) Fear responses to noise in domestic dogs: Prevalence, risk factors and co-occurrence with other fear-related behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. info:/10.1016/j.applanim.2012.12.004
- February 26, 2013
- 02:15 PM
- 153 views
From the words of an albino, a brilliant blend of color
by Maria Konnikova in Literally Psyched
The first synesthete known to scientific literature... Read more »
Jewanski, J., Day, S., & Ward, J. (2009) A Colorful Albino: The First Documented Case of Synaesthesia, by Georg Tobias Ludwig Sachs in 1812. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 18(3), 293-303. DOI: 10.1080/09647040802431946
Simner, J. (2012) Defining synaesthesia. British Journal of Psychology, 103(1), 1-15. DOI: 10.1348/000712610X528305
- February 26, 2013
- 02:03 PM
- 80 views
Empathy and Perspective-Taking in Competitive Situations: The Benefits of Knowing When to Use Your Heart Versus When to Use Your Head–Making a Case for Becoming an Emotionally Intelligent Lawyer
by Dan DeFoe in Psycholawlogy
It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single [...]... Read more »
Gilin, D., Maddux, W., Carpenter, J., & Galinsky, A. (2012) When to Use Your Head and When to Use Your Heart: The Differential Value of Perspective-Taking Versus Empathy in Competitive Interactions. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(1), 3-16. DOI: 10.1177/0146167212465320
- February 26, 2013
- 11:20 AM
- 111 views
A Healthy Serotonin Syndrome?: Dr. Oz Says Natural Serotonin Precursor and Anti-Depressant 5-HTP May Aide Weight Loss
by Steven Talmadge in Life Mental Health
Serotonin syndrome – having too much serotonin in your system — conjures images of Serotonin syndrome symptoms–agitation, loss of coordination, nausea and vomiting as well as many other symptoms. But what if another type of Serotonin syndrome existed—one that, rather than hindering your health, helped you shed pounds while feeling happier and getting more restful [...]The post A Healthy Serotonin Syndrome?: Dr. Oz Says Natural Serotonin Precursor and Anti-Depressant 5-HTP May ........ Read more »
A Healthy Serotonin Syndrome?: Natural Serotonin Precursor and Anti-Depressant 5-HTP May Aide Weight Loss. (2013) serotonin syndrome. LifeMentalHealth. DOI: 10.1007/SpringerReference_184450
- February 26, 2013
- 10:35 AM
- 194 views
In relation to chelation and autism
by Paul Whiteley in Questioning Answers
OK, just to make sure we're straight on this matter:I am not endorsing chelation therapy for autism in this post.Carry on Private...I might have said it before but a few areas of the autism landscape have been, and still, are a bit of a sticking point when it comes to their discussion. Mention for example bowel issues and autism and, in at least some quarters, you can see the eyebrows raising and the eyes beginning their short rolling journey around the eye socket. This despite the fact that bow........ Read more »
Blaucok-Busch E, Amin OR, Dessoki HH, & Rabah T. (2012) Efficacy of DMSA Therapy in a Sample of Arab Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Maedica (Buchar), 7(3), 214-221. info:/
- February 26, 2013
- 04:06 AM
- 170 views
Was Proust really a neuroscientist?
by Christian Jarrett in BPS Research Digest
Psychologist and novelist Charles Fernyhough calls it "one of the most famous passages in modern literature" - the scene when the narrator in Marcel Proust's À La Recherche Du Temps Perdu sips on tea thick with crumbs from a madeleine cake and memories from his childhood come flooding back. It has become the archetypal depiction of what psychologists refer to as an "involuntary memory".
This capacity for sensory experiences to trigger powerful memories, seemingly bey........ Read more »
Troscianko, E. (2013) Cognitive realism and memory in Proust's madeleine episode. Memory Studies. DOI: 10.1177/1750698012468000
- February 25, 2013
- 10:50 PM
- 246 views
The Neurotransmitter Dopamine May Be A Key Mediator Of The “Superiority Illusion”
by Jalees Rehman in Fragments of Truth
The concept “superiority illusion” refers to the fact that people tend to judge themselves as being superior to the average person when it comes to positive traits such as intelligence, desirability or other personality traits. This is mathematically not possible, because in a normally distributed population, most people cannot be above average. The “superiority illusion” belongs to a family of positive illusions, such as the “optimism bias”, which is characte........ Read more »
Yamada, M., Uddin, L., Takahashi, H., Kimura, Y., Takahata, K., Kousa, R., Ikoma, Y., Eguchi, Y., Takano, H., Ito, H.... (2013) Superiority illusion arises from resting-state brain networks modulated by dopamine. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1221681110
- February 25, 2013
- 05:30 PM
- 170 views
Rigid Food Rules in Eating Disorders: Is Perfectionism to Blame?
by Tetyana Pekar in Science of Eating Disorders
I remember cutting baby carrots into 6 pieces. Rushing home to eat because I wasn’t “allowed” to eat after 7 pm. Eating the exact portion size–no more, no less. (Oh the rules. I don’t miss them.) Rigid food rules are very common among eating disorder sufferers. These rules can be about anything: the foods you are allowed to eat, how you are allowed to eat them, the time you are allowed to eat them, and so on.
But where do they come from? Why do some indivi........ Read more »
Brown, A., Parman, K., Rudat, D., & Craighead, L. (2012) Disordered eating, perfectionism, and food rules. Eating Behaviors, 13(4), 347-353. DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2012.05.011
- February 25, 2013
- 10:37 AM
- 179 views
Witty people considered particularly suitable for a fling
by Christian Jarrett in BPS Research Digest
What is humour for? Of all the explanations, among the better supported is the idea that it acts as a mating signal. Research with heterosexuals suggests that men, in particular, use humour to show-off their intelligence and good genes to women. A similar but alternative proposal is that wit is often used to convey romantic availability, and is interpreted in this way. A new study finds support for the latter theory, in that witty people were seen as particularly suitable for short-term flings........ Read more »
Cowan, M., & Little, A. (2013) The effects of relationship context and modality on ratings of funniness. Personality and Individual Differences, 54(4), 496-500. DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2012.10.020
- February 25, 2013
- 07:07 AM
- 171 views
Your boss's expectations shape your performance - but only if you trust them?
by Alex Fradera in BPS Occupational Digest
The Pygmalion effect is the much-observed finding that a leader's high expectations for their subordinates, if clearly communicated and followed up by supporting behaviours, translate into higher achievements for those subordinates. The leader paints the possibility of another possible self that the subordinate could become - 'be all you can be' - if they apply themselves and follow the path. Thus inspired, the subordinate fixes themself on the new horizon, and with guidance, surpasses themself......... Read more »
Karakowsky, L., DeGama, N., & McBey, K. (2012) Facilitating the Pygmalion effect: The overlooked role of subordinate perceptions of the leader. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 85(4), 579-599. DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8325.2012.02056.x
- February 24, 2013
- 01:00 PM
- 247 views
Scientizing Art
by TheCellularScale in The Cellular Scale
I've always been fascinated with the way the eye moves around a piece of art. Andrew Wyeth's "Christina's World" (or as I looked up "that painting of a girl in a field looking at a house")This piece by Andrew Wyeth is an obvious example of an artist completely controlling your gaze. There are pretty much no options here. You look at the girl and then you follow her gaze to the house. You probably then take a quick glance at that other house/barn to the left, and then maybe follow the edge of the........ Read more »
Massaro D, Savazzi F, Di Dio C, Freedberg D, Gallese V, Gilli G, & Marchetti A. (2012) When art moves the eyes: a behavioral and eye-tracking study. PloS one, 7(5). PMID: 22624007
- February 24, 2013
- 07:14 AM
- 209 views
Memantine and autism
by Paul Whiteley in Questioning Answers
As part of their review of autism research in 2012, the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (shortened to the very catchy SFARI) had an interesting blogpost on all things drug development with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in mind.It was an interesting entry insofar as they had categorised the various medicines potentially indicated for some of the symptoms of ASD according to the stage of drug development including some formulations that have previously been fodder for this blog........ Read more »
Chez MG, Burton Q, Dowling T, Chang M, Khanna P, & Kramer C. (2007) Memantine as adjunctive therapy in children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders: an observation of initial clinical response and maintenance tolerability. Journal of child neurology, 22(5), 574-9. PMID: 17690064
- February 23, 2013
- 05:16 PM
- 200 views
Statisticial Issues In Psychology And What Not To Do About Them
by Jesse Marczyk in Pop Psychology
As I’ve discussed previously, there are a number of theoretical and practical issues that plague psychological research in terms of statistical testing. On the theoretical end of things, if you collect enough subjects, you’re all but guaranteed to find some … Continue reading →... Read more »
Perneger TV. (1998) What's wrong with Bonferroni adjustments?. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 316(7139), 1236-8. PMID: 9553006
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