Leading science journalists provide a weekly one-minute commentary on the latest developments in the science of brain and behavior. For a full-length, weekly podcast you can subscribe to Science Talk: The Podcast of Scientific American. To view all our archived podcasts please visit: www.sciam.com/podcast http://www.sciam.com/podcast/ http://www.sciam.com/podcast/images/sciam_podcast_psych.jpg http://www.sciam.com/podcast/ 144 144 © 2008 Scientific American, Inc. http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en-us Mon, 5 May 2008 11:10:42 -0500 Thur, 23 August 2007 09:00:00 -0500 A weekly commentary on the latest in brain and behavior studies. Leading science journalists provide a weekly one-minute commentary on the latest developments in the science of brain and behavior. For a full-length, weekly podcast you can subscribe to Science Talk: The Podcast of Scientific American. To view all our archived podcasts please visit: www.sciam.com/podcast. science, technology, podcast, minute, brain, behavior, psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, Scientific American, 60-second, 60-seconds, modern, cool Scientific American mharbolt@sciam.com Micheal Harbolt no In Negotiations, If You Feel Your Opponents' Pain, It May Be Their Gain http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=95C6D5D4-9E9F-1E2D-7B66C9C695A13175&ref=p_rss 95C6D5D4-9E9F-1E2D-7B66C9C695A13175 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:08 -0500 In Negotiations, If You Feel Your Opponents' Pain, It May Be Their Gain Crucial in any successful negotiation is an accurate understanding of each side's motivations and needs. And although understanding another's needs involves the talent to empathize, research from the journal <i>Psychological Science</i> reveals that feeling another's emotions can be a deal breaker. 00:01:31 negotiation, empathy, deal, business Scientific American no Stock Market Winners Get Big Payoff--In Testosterone http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=71A2DE32-A0B3-D4CC-9589E741CCEC9431&ref=p_rss 71A2DE32-A0B3-D4CC-9589E741CCEC9431 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:00:08 -0500 Stock Market Winners Get Big Payoff--In Testosterone A study of male traders in London reveals an interesting correlation between testosterone levels and success on the trading floor. 00:01:32 Wall Street, traders, testosterone, hormones, money Scientific American no World Wide Suicide: A Self-Termination Community Grows on the Web http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=4D4415E7-0BB5-F377-FCD222D85009C84B&ref=p_rss 4D4415E7-0BB5-F377-FCD222D85009C84B Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:00:08 -0500 World Wide Suicide: A Self-Termination Community Grows on the Web An investigation published in the 'British Medical Journal' reveals that Web searches for information on suicide will likely result in links to pro-suicide sites, which often encourage and facilitate suicide and suicidal ideation. 00:01:27 suicide, Web, Internet, trend Scientific American no Brain Images Make Inaccurate Science News Trustworthy http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=1B9887B0-FCA9-6F1F-4504450EA02A4361&ref=p_rss 1B9887B0-FCA9-6F1F-4504450EA02A4361 Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Brain Images Make Inaccurate Science News Trustworthy Research published in the April issue of the journal Cognition shows that the colorful brain images created by functional magnetic resonance imaging can give a perceived credibility to an otherwise flawed science news story. 00:01:18 brain, images, fMRI, media Scientific American no Learn to Be Kind http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=F2D1DCCE-E9D8-AE36-FE3C1E6CAA3B0C6C&ref=p_rss F2D1DCCE-E9D8-AE36-FE3C1E6CAA3B0C6C Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Learn to Be Kind New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison finds that we can acquire a greater capacity for compassion through meditation training, in much the same way as athletes or musicians train to improve their skill. 00:02:00 meditation, compassion, kind, loving, neuroplasticity, brain Scientific American no Mind the Alzheimer's Switch http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=AD97A979-0108-7514-8B47CEB1E2947FDC&ref=p_rss AD97A979-0108-7514-8B47CEB1E2947FDC Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Mind the Alzheimer's Switch Neuroscientists recently made a startling discovery--young brains may experience memory loss due to the same mechanism responsible for Alzheimer's. 00:01:25 Alzheimer's, brain, memory, neural Scientific American no Experimenting With Drugs http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=67242F1C-FBD3-BC26-FA8585B8F16D051F&ref=p_rss 67242F1C-FBD3-BC26-FA8585B8F16D051F Mon, 3 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Experimenting With Drugs While at Stanford in the mid-1960s, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest author Ken Kesey started adding a peculiar ingredient to his homemade venison stew--LSD. Now, more than forty years later, the psychedelic pioneer's beloved drug is giving neuroscientists new clues about what causes schizophrenic psychosis. 00:01:27 LSD, psychosis, drugs, schizophrenia, cure Scientific American no Debunking Animal Autism http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=3E744D29-DD5A-EB39-EC70F5438254A14A&ref=p_rss 3E744D29-DD5A-EB39-EC70F5438254A14A Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Debunking Animal Autism Animal behaviorist Temple Grandin believes extraordinary animals think much like autistic geniuses. Now, some neuroscientists say it simply isn't true. *This week's podcast guest hosted by Christopher Intagliata, an intern for Scientific American Mind. www.sciammind.com 00:01:32 animals, autism, behavior, genius Scientific American no If You Like It, It Must Be Rare http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=1F4ED5F2-E6C2-A048-4E12EAB20937C88C&ref=p_rss 1F4ED5F2-E6C2-A048-4E12EAB20937C88C Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 If You Like It, It Must Be Rare A study out of the business school INSEAD reveals that we tend to invert the economic axiom of short supply leads to high demand, meaning that we also conclude (prematurely and often incorrectly) that anything in high demand must be in short supply. 00:01:39 single, value, supply, demand, scarcity Scientific American no Fear Raises Self Esteem in Iraqi Teens http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=F56FEEDA-0420-676E-96E0AABCFDC10A76&ref=p_rss F56FEEDA-0420-676E-96E0AABCFDC10A76 Thu, 7 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Fear Raises Self Esteem in Iraqi Teens A survey of 1,000 Iraqi teens reveals a surprising effect of living in a war torn country. Seems that when faced with an indirect threat to one's self or nation, we take action to raise our own self esteem. 00:01:39 Iraq, war, self-esteem, adolescence Scientific American no The "Me" Generation Isn't So "Me" http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=D080B9EE-A3CC-E49C-9BA70D07F6B4FB52&ref=p_rss D080B9EE-A3CC-E49C-9BA70D07F6B4FB52 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:08 -0500 The "Me" Generation Isn't So "Me" Contrary to the media hype that today's teens are more self-absorbed than generations past, Canadian researchers have found zero evidence for any increase in narcissism, which includes arrogance and self-entitlement, over the last three decades. 00:01:40 narcissism, me, teen, self-absorption Scientific American no Lookin' Crazy in Love http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=A8EF82B7-E827-7A68-1201682731D31045&ref=p_rss A8EF82B7-E827-7A68-1201682731D31045 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Lookin' Crazy in Love Psychologist Steven Pinker describes why passionate infatuation, typically associated with unhealthy romantic behavior, may have real advantages for long term commitment. 00:01:49 love, infatuation, commitment, lust Scientific American no Bisexuality is a Distinct Sexual Orientation http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=8902D6F8-F97C-E6FE-74B6D67845F05FEA&ref=p_rss 8902D6F8-F97C-E6FE-74B6D67845F05FEA Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Bisexuality is a Distinct Sexual Orientation Results from a 10-year study show that bisexuality in women is not a transitional phase enroute to lesbianism, but rather a distinct and long-term sexual orientation. 00:01:49 sex, sexuality, bisexuality, women, psychology, monogamy Scientific American no You're so Psychic, Bet You Know This Podcast is About You http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=60FE3CDE-BE0E-750F-B9A775FC118CD8C5&ref=p_rss 60FE3CDE-BE0E-750F-B9A775FC118CD8C5 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:08 -0500 You're so Psychic, Bet You Know This Podcast is About You Two Harvard psychologists use neuroimaging to provide what some call the best evidence yet that extrasensory perception (or ESP) does not exist. 00:02:01 ESP, psychic, neuroimaging, Scientific American no Race, IQ and Flynn http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=3CA0E56C-FF42-BCDA-8A2B8B9667B526C1&ref=p_rss 3CA0E56C-FF42-BCDA-8A2B8B9667B526C1 Thu, 3 Jan 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Race, IQ and Flynn James Flynn, who noticed that IQ scores have risen by three points every decade (a trend called the Flynn Effect), makes a case for why any racial differences in IQ are not immutable and caused by genetics. For more see his latest book, "What is Intelligence? Beyond the Flynn Effect." 00:01:33 intelligence, test, IQ, race, genetics, smart, culture Scientific American no Sibling Conflict Around the Holidays http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=F414C0F6-B59D-800D-F1A01FA3F740532A&ref=p_rss F414C0F6-B59D-800D-F1A01FA3F740532A Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:08 -0500 Sibling Conflict Around the Holidays As much as parents try to craft equal gifts for each child around the holidays, siblings still seem to fight over who got the better gift. New research reveals that parents may not always give fairly to each darling, in fact there's one sibling who takes the lion's share. 00:01:43 family, sibling, conflict, holiday, offspring, genes Scientific American no The Slow Down of Time in Crisis http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=D4146F12-E7F2-99DF-38CD1FEB89C4057C&ref=p_rss D4146F12-E7F2-99DF-38CD1FEB89C4057C Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:08 -0500 The Slow Down of Time in Crisis Recent research from the Baylor College of Medicine tackles the fascinating experience we have of time slowing down during a terrifying event, like a car accident. Does our brain track time differently during crisis? They say no, it's more about a trick of memory. 00:01:44 fear, time, paradox, accident, memory, amygdala Scientific American no Fear Gets Us to the Gym http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=AC6AA1D7-E7F2-99DF-376E9E197AFDEECB&ref=p_rss AC6AA1D7-E7F2-99DF-376E9E197AFDEECB Thu, 6 Dec 2007 00:00:08 -0500 Fear Gets Us to the Gym Research from the University of Bath reveals that the kind of messaging that persuades us to get to the gym is based on how we see ourselves in the future. 00:01:33 motivation, gym, persuasion, messaging, fear Scientific American no See Your Doc to Stop Smoking http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=88916364-E7F2-99DF-33C385DEF79607CD&ref=p_rss 88916364-E7F2-99DF-33C385DEF79607CD Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:08 -0500 See Your Doc to Stop Smoking Two researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health published a review in the November 20th issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, of several hundred smoking studies. They conclude that success in quitting depends on a combo of meds and non-pharmacotherapy, but that a key component is the role of the physician. Just advising a patient to quit, actually doubles their quit rates. And long term follow-up, at least one year, is critical the researchers say. 00:01:27 smoking, quitting, death, nicotine, addiction, physician, health Scientific American no When the Virtual You Changes the Real You http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=68D4F013-E7F2-99DF-3517BDEA98660482&ref=p_rss 68D4F013-E7F2-99DF-3517BDEA98660482 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 00:00:08 -0500 When the Virtual You Changes the Real You Imagine a future where a digital you is influencing the real you; where a communicating clone can convince us to alter our decisions and behavior. Research underway at Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab has shown that our digital self can persuade our real self to exercise more. (A good thing after gorging on mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie!) 00:01:30 virtual reality, avatar, digital clone, exercise, Thanksgiving Scientific American no Laughing in the Face of Adversity http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=41209C82-E7F2-99DF-34C115736811B251&ref=p_rss 41209C82-E7F2-99DF-34C115736811B251 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:08 -0500 Laughing in the Face of Adversity A poster presented at the Society of Neuroscience meeting reveals that empathy isn't always about matching anothers' emotion. Researchers found that sometimes instead of feeling anothers' pain, we might feel more...amused. 00:01:28 pain, amusement, empathy, love Scientific American no The General Gist of False Memories http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=200C11CB-E7F2-99DF-340816699B308772&ref=p_rss 200C11CB-E7F2-99DF-340816699B308772 Thu, 8 Nov 2007 00:00:08 -0500 The General Gist of False Memories Duke University neuroscientists have found a distinction between memories for specifics versus memories for the overall gist of an event. The latter, the overall impression we have of something, tends to be the memory that is more often false. 00:01:26 memory, false memories, true memories, Alzheimer's, aging Scientific American no How We Can Hear Without Sound http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=FC03CD32-E7F2-99DF-3F0DF0FCF522BACE&ref=p_rss FC03CD32-E7F2-99DF-3F0DF0FCF522BACE Thu, 1 Nov 2007 00:00:08 -0500 How We Can Hear Without Sound Research published in Nature describes how spontaneous activity in a developing ear creates the mechanics of hearing in the absence of sound. Researchers say this might help explain the tortuous ringing of tinnitus. 00:01:30 ear, tinnitus, ringing, sound, cochlea, loud Scientific American no Sexual Orientation Controlled in the Brains of Worms http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=D836AAB8-E7F2-99DF-36B63DE2A7358B64&ref=p_rss D836AAB8-E7F2-99DF-36B63DE2A7358B64 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:00:08 -0500 Sexual Orientation Controlled in the Brains of Worms Biologists are able to turn on a gene in the brain of nematode worms that leads them to desire same-sex partners. 00:01:27 worms, sex, sexual orientation, attraction Scientific American no Clock Genes Might Control the Sleep We Need http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=AFFD1EF0-9F67-0855-646F4F921F4F398F&ref=p_rss AFFD1EF0-9F67-0855-646F4F921F4F398F Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:08 -0500 Clock Genes Might Control the Sleep We Need Clock genes, long known to regulate our circadian rhythms, also give clues to what makes sleep so persistent. 00:01:30 sleep, clock genes, genes, circadian rhythm, energy, restoration Scientific American no God in the Brain? http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=8F8D78A7-E7F2-99DF-3A2C341CB563B8C7&ref=p_rss 8F8D78A7-E7F2-99DF-3A2C341CB563B8C7 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:08 -0500 God in the Brain? As neuroscientists search for brain circuits that lead to religious experiences, they're touching on some of our deepest questions - like, could religion be explained by a neural quirk? For more on this story, see David Biello's article, "Searching for God in the Brain" in this month's issue of Scientific American Mind. 00:01:32 religion, God, brain, neuroscience, spiritual, God spot Scientific American no New Head Protection for Footballers http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=69E37A7F-E7F2-99DF-30834F28DBF8CD92&ref=p_rss 69E37A7F-E7F2-99DF-30834F28DBF8CD92 Thu, 4 Oct 2007 00:00:08 -0500 New Head Protection for Footballers A new high-tech helmet allows coaches and sideline doctors to spot concussions and other dangerous injuries on the football field, in real-time. The head gear has sensors that send impact measurements wirelessly. For more on this story, please read Larry Greenemeier's October 4 article on Sciam.com news. 00:01:24 concussion, football, brain injury, tackle, student, high-tech, helmet, head gear Scientific American no More Stress Means Less Eating http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=439F9F3D-E7F2-99DF-36218F52E9BF75B2&ref=p_rss 439F9F3D-E7F2-99DF-36218F52E9BF75B2 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:00:08 -0500 More Stress Means Less Eating Recent studies on a hormone receptor in the brain called CRF2 brought new hope for a solution to obesity. But research in the Journal of Neuroscience cautions: while CRF2 cuts appetite, it also increases stress. 00:01:29 weight, stress, appetite, diet, hormone, brain, weight loss Scientific American no Neurons for Good and Bad Surprises http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=20BE476F-E7F2-99DF-3A8F766FBB0A19C3&ref=p_rss 20BE476F-E7F2-99DF-3A8F766FBB0A19C3 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:08 -0500 Neurons for Good and Bad Surprises A recent study with monkeys finds that the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain, has neurons that fire for good surprises, and different neurons that fire for bad surprises. 00:01:27 neurons, surprise, amygdala, brain, emotions, fear, excitement Scientific American no Fetal Neurons Found in Adult Brain http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=FB4CF71A-E7F2-99DF-3445C0275F2EC8C7&ref=p_rss FB4CF71A-E7F2-99DF-3445C0275F2EC8C7 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:08 -0500 Fetal Neurons Found in Adult Brain Special cells that control the wiring of a fetus' brain were thought to die off shortly after birth. But scientists have found some of these pre-natal neurons surviving, and communicating, in the adult brain. 00:01:23 brain, neurons, cells, growth, injury, neuroplasticity Scientific American no Toddlers Beat the Great Apes at Social Learning http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=DC374F21-E7F2-99DF-39889C0916C47A34&ref=p_rss DC374F21-E7F2-99DF-39889C0916C47A34 Thu, 6 Sep 2007 00:00:08 -0500 Toddlers Beat the Great Apes at Social Learning New research in Science reveals that children and apes are on par when it comes to straight numerical and spatial abilities, but when they're tested on social learning, the children excel. 00:01:25 children, learning, apes, chimpanzees, orangutans, science, imitation Scientific American no Going Under Hypnosis Before Going Into Surgery http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=B37568A3-E7F2-99DF-39588EF5A9AAACC9&ref=p_rss B37568A3-E7F2-99DF-39588EF5A9AAACC9 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:08 -0500 Going Under Hypnosis Before Going Into Surgery Turns out that hypnosis, once thought to be a hocus pocus parlor trick, may now be considered a legitimate surgical tool. 00:01:27 hypnosis, breast cancer, surgery, recovery, pain, fatigue, anesthetic Scientific American no Women Really do Prefer Pink http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=93060EAD-E7F2-99DF-302E803890E8752C&ref=p_rss 93060EAD-E7F2-99DF-302E803890E8752C Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:08 -0500 Women Really do Prefer Pink A study has shown that women are more attracted to reddish hues, than to greens, yellows and the universally-loved blues. 00:01:26 pink, women, color preference, psychology Scientific American no