Link feast
Our pick of the week’s 10 best psychology and neuroscience links.
16 September 2012
Why We should Celebrate Shyness
From Agatha Christie and Charles Darwin to Keira Knightley, Francoise Hardy and Morrissey, the socially awkward and anxious have changed the world for the better. Have we forgotten the benefits of being shy?
How to Talk to Strangers
The health benefits are clear. The political benefits are newly relevant
Worldwide initiatives to advance brain research
To highlight worldwide efforts to fund neuroscience research and address the growing threat of brain disorders, Nature Neuroscience asked leaders of six global brain initiatives to write about their programs.
Life on Mars
A NASA-funded, year-long experiment in Hawaii to mimic life on Mars has come to an end.
‘Robot’ Babies Could Increase Teen Pregnancy Rate
The devices – which need feeding and changing – did not have the desired effect, with pregnancy rates emerging higher than normal.
A Science-Backed Guide to Taking Truly Restful Breaks
By me for 99U – “We know, this sounds made up. But stick with us, because not just any kind of break will do”.
Sad Face
Another classic finding in psychology—that you can smile your way to happiness—just blew up. Is it time to panic yet? (also check out our coverage of the failed replication)
Savage 2-Year-Old Solves the Trolley Problem
A truly sage 2-year-old named Nicholas has finally solved the decades-old philosophical thought experiment (includes video).
Why Singing May Help People With Dementia
A 79-year-old man with Alzheimer’s made headlines this month after YouTube footage of him singing in his car with his son went viral. Neuropsychologist Catherine Loveday explains why music can provide such a powerful connection even when other ways to communicate have been lost.
Social Psychologist Trading Cards
Created by psychologists at the University of Brighton, Social Psychology Trading Cards are “intended to be a fun and accessible way of finding out a bit more about groundbreaking, prominent, important, important-but-ignored and/or inspirational social psychologists. We don’t have to like them, or agree with them”.