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Tuck into our latest round-up of the best psych and neuro links.

18 May 2012

By Christian Jarrett

Will they ever let him rest? Researchers in the USA attempt to simulate the damage suffered by Phineas Gage to the white-matter tracts of his brain (no easy feat given that Gage’s brain was never preserved). Mo Costandi provides some quality coverage for The Guardian. Look out for my own report coming soon.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the brain – the Society for Neuroscience and its friends have clubbed together to create a new website of brain facts.

Ed Yong wrote an excellent Nature news feature on the recent controversies in psychology around replication, and possible solutions. Sadly no mention in there of the recent (open access) Psychologist magazine opinion special on the same subject.

BBC World Service broadcast a programme on the neuroscience and psychology of morality – you can listen to it on iPlayer.

Brain-machine interfacing has taken another step forward – this time paralysed human participants controlled a robotic arm using their thoughts alone.

Are you following our sister blog, The Occupational Digest? Check out recent posts from Alex Fradera on perfectionists and guilt-prone leaders.

How the most famous bet in the history of neuroscience was won and lost – my first Brain Myths blog post for Psychology Today.

This is the only known recording of Freud’s voice.

This year’s Loebner prize (chatbot competition) at Bletchley Park was a bit of a let down – maybe the competition looks at AI in the wrong way?

The APA hosted a Mental Health Month Blog Party – the Digest chipped in with a mental health links round up.

The latest edition on BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind delved into the world of Street Therapy for gang members.

Psychologist Christopher Chabris wrote a highly negative review of Jonah Lehrer’s new book on creativity. Jonah defended himself and then Chabris came back for another goTom Bartlett looks at what we can learn from their exchange.

Can you call a 9-year-old a psychopath?

The latest episode of Hidden Talent included a search for people with extraordinary navigational skills. You can watch it on 4oD and check out blog posts from the psychologists Hugo Spiers and Tom Hartley about their work for the programme. 

What is sleep for? A great overview from Neuroskeptic.

This week’s Guardian Science Weekly podcast featured Claudia Hammond talking about her new book on time perception (congrats to the Guardian podcast team on their recent award).

Electroconvulsive therapy isn’t brutal, it’s a beneficial treatment, says one experienced patient.

Check out this new podcast series – Social Science Bites – Pinker, Kosslyn, Reicher et al lined up for future episodes.

How to remember loads … memory champ and science journalist Joshua Foer’s TED talk is now live.

That’s all for now, have a great weekend!