As identical twins, 19-month-old Sol and Luna share 100 percent of the same DNA. Both girls have soft oval faces, tufts of curly brown hair, slight noses, and large almond-shaped eyes. If Sol’s coat is taken off, Luna will notice, and she will eagerly mimic for hers to be removed. If one is dancing [ … ]
“It’s no one’s business but my own,” she states matter-of-factly. “It’s my stuff, I don’t know why everyone is so concerned. I keep food in case something happens, and a little mold never hurt anyone,” she says, amused. “It’s just like penicillin.” Julia is like most hoarders — blind to the conditions they live in. “If I wanted to throw [ … ]
Most of us would like to have a better memory. We imagine our lives would be better — simpler, faster, easier — if we could recall the things that slip our minds on a daily basis and, increasingly, as we get older. But journalist Joshua Foer took the task more seriously than a passing whim. After witnessing [ … ]
The emotion that everybody was collectively feeling might best be described by the word “schadenfreude,” which means taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others. What makes schadenfreude a complex term is that the pleasure we feel when we witness a person’s misfortune is not derived [ … ]
More than 5 million people in the United States alone suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they live in constant fear of their own memories. But what if the emotional response to that memory could be erased? Or, better yet, the memory itself? [ … ]
“Christina Taylor” (not her real name) recalled her early impressions of her husband of 18 years, “David,” as being emotionally steady. “I never saw any emotion, but I didn’t think much about it then, because he was so level-headed, and never angry,” says Christina, a 48-year-old science teacher in Michigan. [ … ]
The image of the “tortured artist” is one that is easily recognized and has been around for thousands of years, solidifying in the minds of many that in order to be truly creative one must be touched by mental affliction. The idea is so persistent that numerous books and films have been made [ … ]
Imagine if a seemingly innocuous thought — such as the notion of speaking — triggered a response that left you in fear of all social situations. Now imagine it initiating a chain reaction which caused tension in the jaw, involuntary muscle movement, and increased heart rate, and brought on bouts of anxiety that exacerbated your inability [ … ]
Because they are not directly participating in any of these hijinks, most viewers feel that watching reality TV is a harmless recreation, an escape from their own lives. Yet some psychologists are discussing whether reality shows are as harmless as most people believe. After all, whose reality are we viewing? [ … ]
A diet is a prescribed selection of foods. In the West, it’s long been advocated as a way of losing weight. Other benefits touted are improved health, sleep, circulation, and even a longer life. As consumers, we are constantly bombarded with new diets. But what do these plans do to our brains? [ … ]
Science is now taking a closer look at our most intimate experience to discover the inner workings of the human orgasm. Armed with fMRIs and PET scanners, neuroscientists are now able to see what the brain looks like during the peak of sexual fulfillment. [ … ]
“I think my boyfriend thinks I’m crazy,” says Jessica, a New York City boutique manager. She laughs as she recalls [ … ]
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