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Link Feast

Our pick of this week’s 10 best psychology and neuroscience links.

25 April 2015

By Christian Jarrett

The Man Who Couldn’t Stop Giving
What a Brazilian man’s pathological generosity says about the biological roots of philanthropy
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What Can We Learn From Reading Online Reviews?
An analysis of millions of Amazon reviews reveals an intriguing relationship between the star ratings people give and the emotionality of the words that they write.

The Psychology (and Philosophy) of ‘No Regrets’
A clinical psychologist argues that Nietzsche is better than any pop self-health book.

The Strangest Sounds in the World
As these weird audio illusions show, people have radically different opinions about what reaches their ears, says David Robson.

Is Screen Time Really Bad For Young People?
The latest episode in the new run of BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind

The Marketing of a Myth
BMJ editorial on the myth that depression is caused by low serotonin levels

Back to the Ballot Box
Ella Rhodes meets researchers in psychology and politics in search of answers to voter apathy.

How Will the Apple Watch Change Good Manners?
“One strange thing about the Apple Watch … is that it relies on its users engaging in a behavior that has long been viewed as rude or impatient: checking one’s watch in a social setting.”

The Strange Afterlife of Einstein’s Brain
Einstein’s death 60 years ago was just the start of a strange journey for the most prized part of his anatomy, his brain.

These 10 Questions Can Mean Life Behind Bars
A short checklist called the Static-99 weighs facts about a sex offender’s past in order to predict the likelihood of future crimes. Many legal and scientific experts worry that the way the test is often used … is critically flawed.