How carrots help us see the color orange
Researchers used different hues of orange and yellow on various objects to examine color perception and constancy. Participants redefined colors based on their knowledge of object colors, not just the hue.
Experimental Psychology
Articles tagged with Experimental Psychology
Money makes the heart grow less fond... but more hardworking
Recent studies have found that reminding participants of money improves personal performance but decreases interpersonal sensitivity. Participants who were reminded of money spent less time helping others and showed decreased kindness, but increased persistence in difficult tasks.
SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateJul 9, 2008
Study: Sad children out-perform happy children in attention-to-detail tasks
Researchers found that when attention to detail is required, sad children perform better than their happy peers. This finding contradicts the idea that happiness always leads to optimal outcomes. The study suggests that a positive mood can have hidden costs for certain tasks.
Destined to cheat? New research finds free will can keep us honest
A recent study by Kathleen Vohs and Jonathan Schooler found that individuals who believe in their own free will are less likely to cheat and steal money compared to those with weakened convictions. The researchers used a priming method to manipulate participants' beliefs about free will, leading to significant results.
The human brain: Detective of auditory and visual change
The human brain can quickly perceive visual and auditory changes, but a recent study found that this ability is impaired when there's a brief time gap between the change and our perception. The researchers discovered that the brain uses more efficient mechanisms for auditory memory than visual memory.
1 person out of every 1,000 has synaesthesia, in which an individual can smell a sound
Synaesthetes often perceive the world as having a consistent and permanent vision. They may feel strongly about their experiences, which can affect preferences and perceptions. Research by Alicia Callejas Sevilla at the University of Granada explores various forms of synaesthesia.
From terror to joy: faced with death, our minds turn to happier thoughts
Researchers found that when individuals contemplate death, their unconscious mind actively seeks out and activates pleasant memories to cope with the threat. This 'terror management theory' suggests that the brain protects itself from paralyzing fear by involuntarily searching for positive associations.
To determine election outcomes, study says snap judgments are sufficient
A Princeton University study reveals that quick facial judgments can accurately predict real-world election returns, with a rapid appraisal of two candidates' faces sufficient to predict the winner in about 70 percent of U.S. senator and state governor races in 2006 elections.
Our visual system may react more rapidly when visualising 2 objects which might collide
A recent study has found that our brains respond more rapidly when visualizing two objects that may collide. This challenge traditional understanding of visual perception, which suggests a delay between the moment events occur and when they are perceived.
New study determines when infants can think of out-of-sight objects
Researchers tested 19-month and 22-month-old infants on a wet toy to see if they could identify it based on verbal description. The study suggests that before age 2, infants can update their knowledge through verbal interaction, expanding their understanding of the world.
Why does foreign money seem like play money?
A study by Klaus Wertenbroch and colleagues found that people spend less in real terms when using foreign currencies with lower face values, and more when using higher face values. This occurs because consumers evaluate transactions based on nominal differences rather than real purchasing power.
Thinking straight while seeing red?
Research found that anger can increase participants' analytical thinking, yet is often driven by mental shortcuts. The study suggests that angry individuals can process information analytically, but are influenced by cognitive biases.
Nagging spouse? You may have an excuse for not responding
Researchers discovered that nonconscious exposure to a significant person's name can cause individuals to act in defiance of their partner's or boss's wishes. People with high levels of reactance tend to be more resistant to these influences.
Touch tracking bypasses mind control
Researchers found that touch tracking bypasses the brain's cognitive system, allowing participants to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. This breakthrough could help individuals with coordination problems improve their hand movements.
Snap judgments decide a face's character, psychologist finds
Researchers conducted experiments on 200 people, finding that snap judgments about faces are formed rapidly, often before rational thought can influence the reaction. The study suggests that our intuitions about attraction and trust are among the fastest and most intuitive judgments we make.
Forget the label. Portion size is all in your mind
Researchers found that people tend to consume a single unit of food when served in a small portion, despite the actual quantity being larger. This 'unit bias' helps explain how environmental factors influence eating habits and may contribute to obesity.
Segregated classrooms benefit some students, but stop others from reaching full potential
A new study finds that same-sex segregation can be beneficial for some students, particularly those who are resilient to stereotypes and able to moderate their behavior. However, it can also create disadvantages for others who struggle with these skills.
Helping hands
A study by Association for Psychological Science found that pairs can coordinate through haptic interactions, leading to improved performance and development of cooperative strategies. The researchers speculate that this capacity is a fundamental human ability used in various daily activities.
Being targeted by stereotypes and prejudice affects self-control and academic performance
Research found that people from stigmatized groups experience increased anxiety and stress, depleting their self-control when faced with threats or prejudice. This interference affects academic performance, including note-taking, study habits, and test scores.
Hamster study shows how our brains recognize other individuals
A team of Cornell University researchers used golden hamsters to study individual recognition, finding that different brain areas react differently depending on emotions attached to memories. The study's findings may have implications for understanding and treating social anxiety disorders, Asperger syndrome, and autism.
Baby got math
Researchers Kerry Jordan and Elizabeth Brannon found that seven-month-old infants spent more time looking at video images matching the number of women talking, similar to monkeys who chose videos with matching sounds. The study suggests an internal representation of 'two-ness' or 'three-ness' in preverbal infants.
Alcohol-deterrent drugs help patients achieve high rates of long-term abstinence
A nine-year study found that alcohol deterrents can help patients achieve long-term abstinence, with an abstinence rate of over 50 percent. The study suggests that the psychological role of ADs plays a key role in relapse prevention and maintenance of abstinence.
Humans do not understand mirror reflections, say researchers
Psychologists at the University of Liverpool found that people believe they can see themselves even before they are level with the near edge of a mirror. Participants failed to recognize that the image on the surface of a mirror is half the size of the observer due to its midpoint between them and the reflected image.
Rutgers-Newark psychology researchers reveal link between body and action perception
Rutgers-Newark psychology researchers found that individuals with selective and complete haptic deafferentiation, a rare neurological disorder, struggle to simulate others' actions due to lack of body perception. They successfully estimated weight but failed to recognize deception.
The enigmatic face
A recent study found that motion significantly enhances people's ability to recognize subtle facial expressions, particularly when displayed dynamically rather than statically. The research suggests that motion reveals the temporal characteristics of emotions and improves sensitivity to communication of emotion.
Patronizing behavior can negatively affect women employees' performance
A study led by Penn State University assistant professor Theresa Vescio found that patronizing behavior, characterized by giving subordinates praise while withholding resources, can lead to negative performance outcomes for women. This subtle form of sexism may allow discriminatory practices to go unnoticed.
Genes for alcohol consumption identified
A large-scale study identified a genetic basis for certain behaviors, including alcohol consumption, suggesting that genetic make-up may influence drinking habits. The research focused on the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) and found a strong association between this gene variant and alcohol consumption.
Whites more likely to misidentify tools as guns when linked to black faces
Researchers at Ohio State University conducted experiments showing that white Americans are more likely to misidentify tools as guns when shown a picture of an African American before seeing the tool or gun. In contrast, they were less likely to make this mistake when shown a picture of a white person. The study suggests that unconscio...
Eyewitness recall accuracy affected by mood - UNSW research
Researchers found that individuals in a positive mood tend to have unreliable memories and poor critical thinking skills, while those in a negative mood provide more accurate eyewitness accounts. In contrast, a negative mood state triggers more systematic information processing, leading to superior thinking and communication skills.
SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·DateAug 22, 2004
Environmental influences play significant role on experiments
A recent study by Dr. Douglas Wahlsten found that environmental influences significantly impact experiment outcomes in mice, including motor coordination and psychological learning tasks. The study suggests that even small factors like odors and experimenter conduct can have a profound effect on behavior.
Infants learn to fill in perceptual gaps by 4 months
At 2-6 months old, infants learn to connect visible bits and pieces of the world to form mental representations. By 4 months, they can accurately perceive occlusions in object trajectories, laying the foundation for lifelong visual perception.
Eavesdropping occurs among animals, finds evolutionary biologist
Research by Dugatkin and colleagues shows that observing fights in swordtail fish affects their likelihood of winning. Psychological factors play a significant role in animal societies, predicting the outcome of interactions between group members. These findings have implications for understanding human social dynamics.
In living color: We remember scenes better when they’re in color than in black and white
A study by European psychologists found that people remember natural scenes significantly better when they're in color rather than black and white. The researchers also discovered that unnatural colors do not strengthen memory, suggesting that the brain is tuned to the color structure of the world.
Different parts of the brain handle fantasy and reality
Researchers found that different brain pathways handle mental rotation and object recognition tasks, indicating distinct neural circuits. The ventral pathway is involved in object identity, while the dorsal pathway is linked to spatial location.
Rational imitation in preverbal infants
A new study shows that 14-month-olds can imitate a novel means action modelled to them, but only if it's considered the most rational alternative. This indicates that imitation of goal-directed action is a selective interpretative process. In contrast, infants perform the 'hand-action' automatically, suggesting an emulation-like process.
Why do we 'choke' under pressure?
Golf putting study reveals that over-attending to well-learned skills can hinder performance, especially under pressure. The experiment shows that adapting to an environment where individuals focus on performance from the start of learning may provide immunity against 'choking'.
Prejudices toward minority and age groups can be lessened by focusing on social context, according to new research
Researchers found that repeatedly exposing people to positive images of stigmatized groups, such as African Americans and the elderly, can alter their nonconscious attitudes towards those groups. This strategy may help reduce prejudices and improve social welfare.
SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateNov 30, 2001
Three new psychological studies show how positive and negative emotions affect us now and later
Three new studies show that expressing positive emotions can lead to better relationships, mental focus, and personal well-being. Additionally, research finds that a positive outlook on life persists into old age, with extraverted individuals less likely to experience a decline in positive affect.
SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateJan 20, 2001
People are poor at cross-race facial recognition because they concentrate on racial features rather than individual features, according to new study
A new study by Kent State University psychologist Daniel T. Levin found that people's brains tend to classify faces as belonging to a specific race, rather than recognizing individual features. This 'cross-race recognition deficit' affects people of all racial groups and can lead to inaccurate identifications.
Job stress may lead to back injury for some people, study finds
A study at Ohio State University linked job stress to back pain in introverted individuals and those who dislike repetitive tasks. The researchers tested how students reacted to critical supervision while lifting boxes, finding that stressed individuals used their muscles differently, leading to increased spinal forces.
Sensation seekers may be at increased risk for becoming smokers due to greater initial sensitivity to nicotine
A new study found that individuals with a sensation-seeking personality are more sensitive to nicotine's mood-altering effects, particularly at lower doses. This increased sensitivity may be a key factor in their risk of becoming smokers.
SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalExperimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology·DateNov 18, 2000
NYU/Yale research team explores neural basis of racial evaluation
Researchers found that amygdala activity levels are related to unconscious social evaluation, but not conscious attitudes. The study used fMRI to examine the role of the amygdala in racial evaluation and found a significant link between neural activity and implicit race bias.
Strategies people employ for regulating emotions affect memory for event, according to a new study
Researchers found that attempting to control reactions to emotional events weakens memory, but reappraisal strategies have no such impact. The study suggests that expressive suppression, which involves continually monitoring and correcting oneself, consumes cognitive resources and reduces accuracy of event details.
SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateSep 2, 2000
New virtual reality technique helps conquer fear of flying, say researchers
Researchers developed a new virtual reality exposure therapy called Virtual Reality Exposure (VRE) to help individuals with a fear of flying. After eight sessions, participants showed significant reductions in anxiety and fear, with 93% having flown six months after treatment.
Ritalin helps children with ADHD maintain normal reaction time
A new study found that non-medicated ADHD children are three times slower than their non-ADHD counterparts when making quick decisions. However, when treated with Ritalin, the ADHD children's reaction times returned to normal.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Abnormal Child Psychology·DateJul 30, 2000
Your handshake may provide more information to others than you think
A new study by the American Psychological Association found that a firm handshake is associated with a favorable first impression for both males and females. The study suggests that consistent handshaking is related to personality traits such as extraversion and openness.
SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateJul 8, 2000
Gene identified that may play role in psychological disorders
A study found that people with a particular variation in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) showed a greater fear response during a laboratory experiment. This variation is linked to increasing regulation of serotonin levels in the brain, which may play a role in anxiety disorders.
Hindsight bias – not just a convenient memory enhancer but an important part of an efficient memory system
Researchers have developed a model called Reconstruction After Feedback with Take the Best (RAFT) that explains how hindsight bias occurs. Consistent with the model, experiments found that knowledge of nutrition values was updated with feedback, reducing hindsight bias.
UF researchers explore the psychology of cancer treatment choices
A study of 42 breast cancer patients found that those who chose experimental treatments had higher levels of psychological distress, despite similar physical abilities. Researchers suggest that these women may feel a greater need to feel in control and desperate for effective treatment options.
Cranfield professor receives top safety award
Professor Helen Muir has received the Whittle Safety Award for her pioneering work on passenger behaviour in emergencies, significantly improving air travel safety. Her research and contributions have been widely recognized globally, with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Frank Hartley praising her achievements.
Brain chemical mellows male mice, but makes mouse moms tough
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University discovered that the brain chemical nitric oxide makes female mice more aggressive when defending their pups, while reducing aggression in male mice. The study also found that brain cells producing citrulline significantly correlated with female mouse aggressiveness.
New research on Tourette's syndrome
Research suggests Tourette's syndrome is not a simple motor disorder, but rather a condition affecting the brain's circuits that control planning and decision making. The study found that individuals with Tourette's can anticipate and adjust to their tics, indicating intentional movement.
Some adults believe illness can be 'payback' for bad behavior
A new study reveals that up to 44% of adults believe in the concept of 'immanent justice,' where bad behavior leads to severe illnesses. The study, conducted by Ohio State University researchers, found that language plays a significant role in shaping beliefs on this topic.
Experimental testosterone patch shows promise for treating diminished sexual function in surgically menopausal women
A study conducted at nine U.S. Centers found that a testosterone skin patch improves sexual function and psychological well-being in surgically menopausal women. The patch was well-tolerated and showed significant benefits in improving the quality of life for these women.
Showing pictures of admired blacks or elderly can lower levels of unconscious prejudice
Research reveals that showing pictures of admired individuals from marginalized groups can significantly decrease unconscious prejudice. Exposure to images of admired blacks reduced levels of unconscious prejudice by one-third, while exposure to images of admired elderly people lowered ageism by a similar amount.
Men And Women’s Hearts React To Different Stresses
Research found that men and women have distinct reactions to stressors, including disagreements and skill challenges. Husbands tend to respond more strongly to perceived threats to their status and power, while wives are more reactive to interpersonal conflicts and quality of interaction.
Strengthening Parenting Skills Found To Ward Off Behavior Problems In Children At Risk, Says New Study
A new study found that strengthening parenting skills can prevent aggressive behavior problems in children at risk. The study involved 426 families participating in parent-training programs that taught positive discipline strategies and effective parenting skills.
SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·DateOct 5, 1998
Roots Of Unconscious Prejudice Affect 90 To 95 Percent Of People, Psychologists Demonstrate
A new tool, the Implicit Association Test, measures unconscious components of prejudice, revealing automatic preferences and biases. The test has been used to demonstrate prejudice towards various racial, ethnic, and gender groups, highlighting the need for self-awareness and understanding.
How Mammals Learn To Recognise Their Mother
Researchers found that young rats learned to distinguish lactating females from others through repeated trials, but did not yet recognize their mother. This study sheds light on the complex process of mammalian recognition and attachment.
Study Finds Dramatic Distorting Effect Of Law Enforcement Feedback To Eyewitnesses In Criminal Cases
Research reveals that positive feedback from law enforcement can distort eyewitness memories, making them more confident and accurate. The study suggests that this distortion can lead to innocent convictions, highlighting the need for supervised lineups and confidence assessments.