Brain Mechanisms of Conformity

Razi Berry Some of the same brain systems known to play a role in learning from trial and error also are engaged when people conform to social norms, scientists report in a new study. The findings are important, the researchers said, because changing one’s behavior to align with one’s peers can contribute to community-building or […]

Self-Love Lowers Cardiovascular Disease

Razi Berry Despite what skeptics say, being kind to oneself is not a New Age fad — and there is research to back it up. Middle-aged women who practiced self-compassion had lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, irrespective of other traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure, insulin resistance and cholesterol levels. The findings […]

Sleep, Stress and Mood May Modulate How ‘In Control’ Older Adults Feel

Sleep, Stress and Mood May Modulate How ‘In Control’ Older Adults Feel

Razi Berry From North Carolina State University Psychology researchers have found another reason that sleep, mood and stress are important: they affect the extent to which older adults feel they have control over their lives. The findings can inform efforts to improve an individual’s sense of control, which has ramifications for physical, mental and emotional […]