In 2021 more than 3,500 drivers in the USA alone died in traffic accidents linked to distracted driving. Using a mobile phone is the primary source of distraction, but entering navigational information, trying to eat and performing other such activities can be just as risky. A new study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied […]
First, it races away unstoppably—then it seems to stand still. Our perception of time is anything but constant. Two new studies suggest our heartbeat can cause passing moments to drag or fly. The experiments, led by separate research groups, have uncovered complementary findings. Together, their work confirms that the heart’s activity influences our perception of time […]
Working four days instead of five—with the same pay—leads to improved well-being among employees without damaging the company’s productivity. That’s the recently reported result of a four-day workweek test that ran for six months, from June to December 2022, and involved a total of 61 U.K. companies with a combined workforce of about 2,900 employees. […]
If you’ve ever had the eerie sensation there’s a presence in the room when you were sure you were alone, you may be reluctant to admit it. Perhaps it was a profound experience that you are happy to share with others. Or – more likely – it was something in between the two. Unless you […]
If you hate Mondays, you’re most certainly in good company. After a couple of days off, many of us have difficulty settling back into our routines and work duties. You may even have dread and anxiety that seeps into the weekend in the form of “Sunday scaries”. You can’t always change your schedule or obligations […]
It has long been known in scientific circles that oxytocin promotes bonding between people. A study by the Neurorehabilitation Research Group of KU Leuven in Belgium has found that the external administration of oxytocin, the so-called ‘cuddle hormone’ – or ‘hug hormone’ as I prefer to call it – stimulates adult males with autism to […]
Since the 19th century, when motivational science had its start, scientists have focused on what makes us persist through difficulties and achieve what we want. Only recently have they zeroed in on how we can relinquish our cherished aspirations—and why we should. Leaving aside a cherished objective may benefit psychological and even physical health. They term […]
Scientists who study happiness know that being kind to others can improve well-being. Acts as simple as buying a cup of coffee for someone can boost a person’s mood, for example. Everyday life affords many opportunities for such actions, yet people do not always take advantage of them. In a set of studies published online in the Journal […]
Have you ever met someone and known right away you’d found a new friend? Was it their smile, their laugh, a twinkle in their eye or maybe a clever joke they told? In truth, the deciding factor might have been an underappreciated item on your subconscious checklist. As is the case for many mammals, your […]
A Scottish woman named Joy Milne made headlines in 2015 for an unusual talent: her ability to sniff out people afflicted with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative illness affects millions of people worldwide. Since then a group of scientists in the U.K. has been working with Milne to pinpoint the molecules that give Parkinson’s its […]
Are you one of those people who falls asleep minutes after their head hits the pillow and awakens cheery and refreshed when the sunlight filters through the window? If you are, then count your blessings! Your reliable inner clock may also deserve some credit for other aspects your health: good blood pressure, metabolism, digestion, and […]
Placebo effects, exercise highs, getting sick when you’re stressed out—the popular press and the scientific literature alike are full if examples of how the mind or mental processes influence our health and well-being. This “mind-body connection” is essential for normal organ function and also is viewed as the basis for psychosomatic disorders. Yet the concept […]