Neuropsych
All Stories
Identical twins were raised in different countries. Here’s how they differ today.
Will nature or nurture win out?
Parental alienation: When parents turn children into weapons, everybody loses
One form of domestic abuse involves a parent breaking their child’s connection with the other parent.
This 715-song playlist is scientifically verified to give you the chills, thanks to “frisson”
Listening to some songs can cause a powerful physiological response known as "frisson." What is it, and why does it happen?
Inside the mind of a hoarder (and how to help them)
Hoarders know their habits are abnormal, and yet they cannot help themselves. Maybe you can help them.
Psychopathy: Don’t believe what you see in TV crime shows
Are psychopaths cold-blooded murderers? Not usually.
The law of reversed effort: The harder you try, the harder you fall
There are many things in life that cannot be improved with greater effort. Sometimes, life requires that you step back.
What is technology addiction? (And how you can better manage it)
To reap the benefits of digital technologies, we must contend with their addictive designs.
10 benefits of bilingualism, according to science
Learning another language might make you richer, sexier, and smarter. Why not try it?
Can near-death experiences prove the afterlife?
Millions of people have had a near-death experience, and it often leads them to believe in an afterlife. Does this count as good proof?
Truth-by-repetition: No matter how outrageous, repeated lies become the truth
It doesn't matter how ridiculous a lie is. As long as it is repeated often enough, some people will believe it.
How psychopathy might be an evolutionary adaptation
Instead of a mental illness, some research suggests that psychopathy — in moderation — is a reasonable life strategy.
Your personality is linked to risk of dementia and cognitive decline
A study involving nearly 2,000 people found links between personality traits and the likelihood of moving toward or away from dementia.
Staring at an image of yourself on Zoom has serious mental health effects
The effects are even worse for women.
Humans may share a universal sense of beauty in color combinations
Independent of cultural background, people seem to share a sense of what makes certain color combinations aesthetically pleasing.
Monkeys can sense their own heartbeats
The ability is tied to mental health, consciousness, and memory in humans.
Moral reframing: How to work with, not against, our tribal tendencies 
People underestimate their opponent’s capacity to feel basic human sensations. We can short-circuit this impulse through moral reframing and perspective taking.
After taking LSD, he was sober for a year. Then came the recurring flashbacks.
A small percentage of people who consume psychedelics experience strange lingering effects, sometimes years after they took the drug.
Mathematicians suggest the “37% rule” for your life’s biggest decisions
When making any tough decision, the key is not to be overly exploratory or exploitative.
What is aphasia? About the condition forcing Bruce Willis to retire
Bruce Willis has announced he is stepping away from acting.
What the science of authenticity says about discovering your true self
Studies show that feelings of ease and comfort in a given situation are tied to feelings of authenticity.
Physical vs. sexual desire: Why romantic love can flourish without lust
Successful romantic relationships require desire, but that desire doesn't have to be sexual.
Can’t buy me meaning? Money cuts a quicker path to happiness
In the pursuit of happiness, money probably trumps meaning.
Building peace with psychedelics: Here’s what happened when Palestinians and Israelis took ayahuasca together
The results of a 2021 study suggest that the world's most powerful psychedelic may be an underutilized peace-building tool.
Men think they’re brighter than they are and women underestimate their IQ
Psychologist Adrian Furnham has termed this effect the male hubris, female humility problem.
Sounds like hype: there’s scant evidence the “binaural beats” illusion relaxes your brain
Stress-busting soundtrack or placebo effect?
Even after lockdowns eased, pandemic depression persisted across social classes
Wealth was a cushion, but even being well-off did not protect people from the harmful effects of pandemic stressors.
What are emotions? Neuroscientific research on animals may finally settle the debate
Revolutionary techniques for understanding brain functions in animals could soon help us understand how emotions guide our lives.
Debunked: “learned helplessness,” a theory developed from a cruel animal experiment
Helplessness isn't learned — it's an instinctual response that can be overcome.