Grow that big brain you've always dreamed of, with just 3x per week
Exercise keeps your cognitive capabilities intact and in older people can actually reverse the brain-aging process.
More here: Exercise protects memory formation capability
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Cognitive Atlas
Cognitive Atlas
It's a project that aims "to develop a knowledge base (or ontology) that characterizes the current thought in cognitive science."
It is also exceedingly cool.
It's a project that aims "to develop a knowledge base (or ontology) that characterizes the current thought in cognitive science."
It is also exceedingly cool.
Sleep on it to remember it
Sleep selectively stores useful memories
Sleep doesn't just help us remember, our brains actively select what memories are worth remembering. Sleep helps solidify our expectations.
Sleep doesn't just help us remember, our brains actively select what memories are worth remembering. Sleep helps solidify our expectations.
How good is your short-term memory?
Test your short-term memory: how many letters can you memorize?
The very first practical experiments in psychology looked nearly identical to this test. It's a fun test.
The very first practical experiments in psychology looked nearly identical to this test. It's a fun test.
Brain drugs - the unknown
What we don't know about cognitive enhancement
Quite a bit. Next question?
More seriously - really, we don't know very much. It's very exciting research, but the benefits overpower the ability to consider the vast gaps in what we don't know.
Quite a bit. Next question?
More seriously - really, we don't know very much. It's very exciting research, but the benefits overpower the ability to consider the vast gaps in what we don't know.
Nim Chimpsky
Documentary tells the tale of Nim Chimpsky, the chimp raised as a human
Of the many famous failed experiments in psychology, this one is particularly instructive about the dangers of taking philosophical positions to the extreme.
Of the many famous failed experiments in psychology, this one is particularly instructive about the dangers of taking philosophical positions to the extreme.
Can you recall your memories?
Research finds practicing retrieval is best tool for learning
Re-reading and reviewing the things you've studied and or taken notes on is the best way to learn something. Gee, who knew?[/sarcasm]
Re-reading and reviewing the things you've studied and or taken notes on is the best way to learn something. Gee, who knew?[/sarcasm]
Pay for performance kind of sucks
Financial reward undermines intrinsic incentives
It has been known for quite some time that extrinsic rewards can have negative effect on intrinsic motivation, but this study brings the effects into sharp relief.
It has been known for quite some time that extrinsic rewards can have negative effect on intrinsic motivation, but this study brings the effects into sharp relief.
Jedi mind-trick: DIY
The psychology of persuasion
Great list of articles that refer to current research on what types of things influence others.
Another list of approaches to persuasion: How to plant ideas in someone's mind
Great list of articles that refer to current research on what types of things influence others.
Another list of approaches to persuasion: How to plant ideas in someone's mind
Music as a brain booster?
Does music make you smarter?
Short answer: a qualified, yes.
Long answer: in specific domains, yes you will gain cognitive advantages, in overall intelligence measures like IQ, not so much.
Short answer: a qualified, yes.
Long answer: in specific domains, yes you will gain cognitive advantages, in overall intelligence measures like IQ, not so much.
Sexual self-esteem
Better than sex! US college students value self-esteem boosts more than bodily pleasures
So, is this because "self-esteem" is vital to our well-being or is it a product of the entitlement generation and the constant barrage of self-esteem boosting these students got when they were kids (as is the standard practice in most of education today)?
So, is this because "self-esteem" is vital to our well-being or is it a product of the entitlement generation and the constant barrage of self-esteem boosting these students got when they were kids (as is the standard practice in most of education today)?
Is happiness just an illusion?
Is happiness even the point?
I've posted about this before, but it seems there are people that believe that happiness is NOT a natural state for humans. The basic message from this article is that happiness is at best a fleeting, momentary thing and not really a state that can be achieved for long periods of time.
I'm not sure I buy into that. I think it depends on your mindset and your level of exposure to and availability of what makes you happy. Yes, happiness can be fleeting, but I believe it can also be enduring - I believe that it can be a state that is achievable. Not in every domain of your life, but in a sufficient abundance to be the overriding state of mind.
I've posted about this before, but it seems there are people that believe that happiness is NOT a natural state for humans. The basic message from this article is that happiness is at best a fleeting, momentary thing and not really a state that can be achieved for long periods of time.
I'm not sure I buy into that. I think it depends on your mindset and your level of exposure to and availability of what makes you happy. Yes, happiness can be fleeting, but I believe it can also be enduring - I believe that it can be a state that is achievable. Not in every domain of your life, but in a sufficient abundance to be the overriding state of mind.
Build your memory
How to memorize anything you want: a quick primer on mental mapping
The advice revolves around a particular technique which may or may not work very well with every individual, but overall, this is a very good bit of instruction on a very useful technique.
The advice revolves around a particular technique which may or may not work very well with every individual, but overall, this is a very good bit of instruction on a very useful technique.
More bad news for alcohol
Alcohol impairs the body's ability to fight off viral infection
Remember, whenever you read a study about the magical benefits of certain items like alcohol or even chocolate, there are usually a bunch of unwanted side effects to go with it.
Remember, whenever you read a study about the magical benefits of certain items like alcohol or even chocolate, there are usually a bunch of unwanted side effects to go with it.
Sleep off the fat
Early to bed and early to rise -- study suggests it's keeping kids leaner
They are starting to find the same kind of thing for adults as well.
They are starting to find the same kind of thing for adults as well.
The neuroscience of Halo
Gaming and neuroscience: opportunities and challenges
I've personally seen very few studies on gaming that were done in any kind of balanced methodology. There is PLENTY of room for excellently constructed and philosophically balanced studies.
I've personally seen very few studies on gaming that were done in any kind of balanced methodology. There is PLENTY of room for excellently constructed and philosophically balanced studies.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The secrets of mind control
20 simple steps to the perfect persuasive message
This seems like incredibly useful information no matter what you are doing. Now...go forth and dominate the masses.
This seems like incredibly useful information no matter what you are doing. Now...go forth and dominate the masses.
I have more free will than you!
We really do believe we've got more free will than the other guy
Humans are imminently self-delusional creatures. Among many, many other self delusions, we apparently also think that we have more free will than the next person. It is not dissimilar to how everyone, if asked, will feel they are "above average" - which is mathematically impossible. I'm not sure if it's self-delusion or underestimating others, but either way, we're probably wrong.
Humans are imminently self-delusional creatures. Among many, many other self delusions, we apparently also think that we have more free will than the next person. It is not dissimilar to how everyone, if asked, will feel they are "above average" - which is mathematically impossible. I'm not sure if it's self-delusion or underestimating others, but either way, we're probably wrong.
Be happy: learn something
Happy videos improve learning
Mood has quite a bit to do with learning. The evidence continues to mount.
Mood has quite a bit to do with learning. The evidence continues to mount.
Language controversy
Piraha: the world's most controversial language?
This is an absolutely fascinating language to study. That a version of anthropology is used in furthering psychology is straight-up geek cool.
This is an absolutely fascinating language to study. That a version of anthropology is used in furthering psychology is straight-up geek cool.
Learn how to learn
10 brain tips to teach and learn - ideas for new year resolutions
If learning that you can learn is essential, learning how to learn is just as essential.
If learning that you can learn is essential, learning how to learn is just as essential.
Engage yourself in learning
Active learners learn more than passive learners
Engaging your active attention is always a good thing. Active learning is essentially a way to engage your selective attention.
Engaging your active attention is always a good thing. Active learning is essentially a way to engage your selective attention.
Happy people are psychotic
Only crazy people are happy
Apparently someone out there thinks that happiness is a psychiatric disorder similar to depression.
Okay...well....I"m not quite sure what to do with that information. Here's hoping you have a mood disorder? Have a psychic mood disorder affected day?
Weird.
Apparently someone out there thinks that happiness is a psychiatric disorder similar to depression.
Okay...well....I"m not quite sure what to do with that information. Here's hoping you have a mood disorder? Have a psychic mood disorder affected day?
Weird.
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