Brain Memorizes Words On The Left, Faces on The Right
A new study finds that when remembering words, the brain activates the left side, while unfamiliar faces are processed by the right. However, both sides become active for objects with names.
Experimental Psychology
Articles tagged with Experimental Psychology
New Test Identifies People Who Can Handle High-Pressure Jobs Requiring RapidDecision Making, Large Amounts Of Information
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new test to assess rapid decision-making skills under heavy information load. The test, called the Abstract Decision Making task, was found to be predictive of performance in jobs such as emergency dispatching and air traffic control.
Carnegie Mellon Researchers Say Direct Instruction, Rather Than "Discovery Learning" Is Best Way To Teach Process Skills In Science
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that direct instruction using the Control of Variables Strategy is effective in teaching young children about science. Children can distinguish between knowing an answer and having to guess with minimal training, making it a crucial process skill for scientific experimentation.
Researchers Identify Cognitive Process That Contributes To Gambling Behavior
Selective hypothesis testing, considering only one possible outcome, contributes to overestimation of probability and increased gambling decisions. Training in abstract reasoning skills may counteract this influence.
Racism In The 1990s: Psychological And Social Mechanisms Still Fuel Prejudice, UD Researcher Reports
Despite financial gains by some African Americans, racism may be getting worse in the US due to individual and institutional barriers. Expert James M. Jones recommends six steps to reduce prejudice, including joint cooperation, intergroup contact, and a greater appreciation of individual differences.
Colors Composed By Brain, Not Eyes
Cornell University psychologist Romi Nijhawan's experiment shows that the brain can decompose yellow into its constituent red and green based on motion of the stimulus. Human retinas cannot sense motion on their own, but the brain uses a process called motion extrapolation to correct for this delay.
The Suspect Confessed. Case Closed? Not Necessarily, Researcher Says
According to psychologist Saul M. Kassin, modern interrogation techniques can elicit false confessions, compromising the justice system. Laboratory experiments demonstrate that innocent people can adopt false beliefs and confabulate details under suggestion.