Psychology
- Psychology
‘Vocal fry’ makes female singers seem expressive
Female singers who use vocal fry, the deep, creaky vocal effect made famous by pop stars like Britney Spears, may sound more expressive to listeners.
By Meghan Rosen - Psychology
Marijuana use starting in youth implicated in financial woes
Long-term, heavy pot smoking linked to financial troubles by age 38.
By Bruce Bower - Science & Society
Pulling ‘Vaxxed’ still doesn’t retract vaccine misconceptions
The Tribeca Film Festival’s decision to cancel its screening of an antivaccination film has been lauded as a win for science, but irrationality already won.
- Psychology
Psychology’s replication crisis sparks new debate
Controversy flares again about whether psychology studies survive further scrutiny.
By Bruce Bower - Psychology
Psychologist probes possible link between prodigy, autism
The Prodigy’s Cousin explores the baffling world of child prodigies and people with autism.
- Anthropology
Rise of human civilization tied to belief in punitive gods
Beliefs in all-knowing, punitive deities may have fueled the growth of human civilizations.
By Bruce Bower - Psychology
Don’t blame winter for that bleak mood
Contrary to popular opinion, depression doesn’t spike in winter, survey finds.
By Bruce Bower - Psychology
There’s a sour side to serotonin
Serotonin has a sour side. The chemical messenger helps mice to taste sour, a new study shows.
- Psychology
Kids grasp words as symbols before learning to read
Preschoolers grasp that written words refer to specific things before they learn to read.
By Bruce Bower - Psychology
As suicide rates rise, researchers separate thoughts from actions
Advances in suicide research and treatment may depend on separating thoughts from acts.
By Bruce Bower - Science & Society
How seeing ‘Star Wars’ satisfies your narcissistic tendencies
Participating in geek culture allows self-identified geeks to satisfy a narcissistic need for expert status, a new study hypothesizes.
- Science & Society
In science, a lack of replication shouldn’t kill your reputation
The proof is science is when a study is replicated. When it’s not, do scientists suffer? A new study says researchers may overestimate the negative effects.