Psychology(Page 2)

Get to know your own mind—and improve your mental health—with the latest findings on human brains and behavior.

Latest in Psychology

A macro, close-up photograph of human skin texture showing small hairs standing straight up, a phenomenon known as goosebumps or gooseflesh. The skin tone is light, and the background is a solid, clear blue sky.

Why you get goosebumps when you’re scared—or inspired

By RJ Mackenzie

a brown dog holds a plush monkey

Dogs really can be addicted to their toys

By Laura Baisas

Empty dentist office showing tools and chair

Extreme fear of the dentist linked to childhood trauma

A close-up shot of a hand holding a wooden mallet with a red, fuzzy end, positioned over a bronze singing bowl. The bowl is resting on a light-colored surface, and the background is softly blurred with warm, glowing fairy lights, suggesting a relaxing, indoor setting.

I tried a sound bath to see if it actually made me calmer

By Mack DeGeurin

A blue, semi-transparent anatomical illustration of a human torso, neck, and shoulders from the front. The main focus is on the spine and nervous system, which are highlighted with glowing red lines running down the center of the back and branching out into the chest. The background is solid black.

Does vagus nerve stimulation work? A scientific cure-all explained.

By Clarissa Brincat

a graphic of the brain with several multi-colored balls inside

Why some memories stick while others fade

By Laura Baisas

a black and white dog surrounded by dog toys

Dogs can learn and remember how toys work

By Laura Baisas

a backyard version of fenway park complete with a green monster, signs, and scoreboard

A dedicated son brings Fenway Park to his dad’s backyard

By Laura Baisas

a young man using his smartphone in the toilet while sitting with a roll of toilet paper placed in a toilet paper holder in the foreground

Bathroom doomscrolling may increase your risk of hemorrhoids

Mother and child orangutan in tree nest

Baby orangutans spy on mom to build cozy treehouse nests

Illustration of the Great Fear of 1789

Rumors spread like viruses. The French Revolution proved it.

A woman with her eyes closed and head tilted back, smiling serenely, stands in a dense forest. She is wearing a bright yellow raincoat and a backpack, with tall, dark tree trunks rising all around her. The sunlight filters through the canopy, creating a peaceful and happy mood.

Does St. John’s wort really increase serotonin?

By Clarissa Brincat

two small brown rodents called prairie voles

Love hormone could be key to friendship

By Margherita Bassi

Does ashwagandha actually help with anxiety and sleep?

By Clarissa Brincat

Spilled salt shaker on table

Man develops psychosis following ChatGPT’s salt-free diet

Robot and man with exposed brain face to face in spotlight, human vs artificial intelligence

Illinois’ ban on AI therapy won’t stop people from asking chatbots for help

By Mack DeGeurin

A woman sitting up in bed at night, looking frustrated and rubbing her neck while a man next to her sleeps with his mouth open. A warm lamp hangs on the wall behind them. The woman appears disturbed by the man's snoring or sleep talking.

Why do we talk in our sleep? ‘It’s a glitch.’

By Lauren Leffer

a 3D graphic of a pink brain with multicolored, square confetti being tossed at it

How your brain can tell squishy ‘stuff’ from hard ‘things’

By Laura Baisas

Loch Ness monster sculpture in lake with googly eyes

The Loch Ness Monster’s body is a ‘zoological impossibility’

A highly detailed visualization of a glowing blue neuron with electric impulses traveling through its synapses. This futuristic and scientific representation illustrates brain activity, artificial intelligence, and the complexity of neural networks in both biology and technology

Biomedical engineers grow whole-brain organoid

Office interior with white columns and panoramic windows in modern loft. Many green plants in pots in workroom with laptops on tables with chairs and cups at daylight, flat lay, nobody, free space

Four-day work week benefits workers and employers, new study shows

a person cracks an egg over a campfire into a skillet with red peppers

Why does food by the campfire taste better?

By Avery Schluyer Nunn

An illustration of a microscopic neural network in the brain.

Even old brains can make new neurons, study suggests

By Lauren Leffer

teen driver from behind

How this driving school applies psychology to teach teens (and their parents) about safer driving

By Kristin Shaw

Model of human brain floating over bed in dark room

What’s the purpose of dreaming?

By Clarissa Brincat

A loving father of African descent sits on the couch at home and reads a storybook to his preschool age daughter. The child is sitting on her father's lap and is smiling while looking at the book.

Why do kids love reading the same book over and over? Child development experts explain.

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Close up of fruit fly head on orange background

Researchers genetically altered fruit flies to crave cocaine

Hand holds Vintage photograph of boy on tricycle at christmas

Why we forget our childhoods

By RJ Mackenzie

Speech bubble with swear word symbols on red background

US ranks first in swearing

a dog with wide eyes and ears perked up is kissed by two humans

Dogs can fulfill our need to nurture

By Laura Baisas

Close up of Asian women's eyes

Your eyes can reveal the accuracy of your memories

By Clarissa Brincat

an illustration of a human brain with a lightbulb over it, simulating an idea

Your ‘Eureka!’ moments can be seen in brain scans

By Laura Baisas

2 small boys playing Street Smart video game in video arcade on boardwalk.

The surprising benefits of video games

A mother chimpanzee carrying her twins on her back.

Wild chimp babies bond with their moms in human-like ways

By Laura Baisas

a california sea lion sits by a pool

This sea lion can keep a beat better than some humans

By Laura Baisas

This sticker reads emotions (even the ones you try to hide)

By Mack DeGeurin

Neurons and their branch extensions known as dendrites are featured within a mouse’s cerebral cortex.

Scientists watch how mice learn, one synapse at a time

Close-up of Funny gigner cat sniffs at a cucumber on the table against gray background,

Are cats really afraid of cucumbers? We asked the experts.

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Oklahoma City USA - September 9 2015; Oklahoma City Bombing Field of Empty Chairs a sculpture in bronze and glass remembering the 168 killed in bombing in 1997

Oklahoma City bombing trauma changed the ‘actual physical being’ of survivors

an illustration of several mouths talking

How to talk for a very, very long time

By Laura Baisas

An illustration showing how the brain and gut are connected.

The brain remembers what gave you food poisoning

By Laura Baisas

Worker using laptop and smartphone at office

Sorry, hiding your phone won’t stop your procrastination

Father teaching baby how to walk in living room

Why don’t we remember being a baby? New clues in memory mystery.

Conceptual image of a stack of old analog TV sets with blank screens against a white wall

Why new tech only feels good for a short time

close up of tinfoil hat on man against blue background

Poor sleep can make you more susceptible to conspiracy theories

Close up of black chess pieces on chessboard with king knocked over

AI tries to cheat at chess when it’s losing

A lineup of the best sex toys on a white background

The best sex toys, tested and reviewed

the stone remains of a castle, revealing an archway, wall, and a tower

In a global crisis, working harder isn’t the best solution

By Laura Baisas

Close up of person using nasal spray

FDA approves first-of-its-kind nasal spray for severe depression

Do animals experience mental illness?

By Mack DeGeurin

Close up of hand holding pencil solving crossword puzzle

Why crossword puzzles get easier as you solve them, according to physics

Creepy robot toddler can mimic human expressions

Past experiences strongly affect empathy in mice

Teen boy with headphones in bedroom listening to music on smartphone

AI chatbot suggested a teen kill his parents, lawsuit claims

leaded gasoline reminder

Childhood leaded gasoline exposure damaged Americans’ mental health

By Lauren Leffer

An illustration of the amygdala, shown in red. It is a part of the brain’s limbic system and plays a key role in processing emotions.

‘Was I awkward?’ What overthinking after a party has to do with your ‘lizard brain’

By Laura Baisas

young woman in bed with alarm clock and eyes opened suffering insomnia and sleep disorder thinking about his problem on dark studio lighting in sleeping and nightmare issues

What causes you to jolt awake right before falling asleep?

Chimpanzee playing a number-based game on a touch screen

Like humans, chimps often perform tasks differently when crowds are watching

brain scans of people watching clips from movies

MIT maps how the brain experiences movies

By Laura Baisas

The best light therapy lamps composited

The best light therapy lamps to brighten up your life

Boston Dynamic's Spot getting kicked in a routine test.

Researchers tortured robots to test the limits of human empathy

By Mack DeGeurin

Janet Leigh screaming during iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho.'

Why do jump scares terrify us so much? Blame evolution.

a rider in a headless horseman costume rides by yellow fall leaves

The Headless Horseman shares her secrets

By Laura Baisas

dark woods with fog

Corrupt government officials, illness among the biggest fears of 2024

By Laura Baisas