Psychology

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

Latest in Psychology

Past experiences strongly affect empathy in mice 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 AI chatbot suggested a teen kill his parents, lawsuit claims

leaded gasoline reminder

Childhood leaded gasoline exposure damaged Americans’ mental health 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’ ‘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? 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 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 MIT maps how the brain experiences movies

By Laura Baisas

The best light therapy lamps composited

Gear

The best light therapy lamps to brighten up your life 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 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. 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 The Headless Horseman shares her secrets

By Laura Baisas

dark woods with fog

Corrupt government officials, illness among the biggest fears of 2024 Corrupt government officials, illness among the biggest fears of 2024

By Laura Baisas

an illustration of one woman yelling and another holding her hands up in shock

Why people insist they’re correct without all the facts Why people insist they’re correct without all the facts

By Laura Baisas

The ‘voices’ that people with schizophrenia hear could be echoes of their own vocalizations The ‘voices’ that people with schizophrenia hear could be echoes of their own vocalizations

looking for a mental health provider online

DIY

Struggling to find an in-network mental health provider? Here’s what you can do. Struggling to find an in-network mental health provider? Here’s what you can do.

By Max Blau / ProPublica

Woman working at desk with face mask on while sick

The research supports you taking a sick day The research supports you taking a sick day

pile of baked goods

How food affects our mental health How food affects our mental health

By Mary Scourboutakos / The Conversation

Why EMDR trauma therapy is gaining popularity Why EMDR trauma therapy is gaining popularity

By Laurel Niep / The Conversation

Woman singing in studio microphone

You can (probably) sing better than you think You can (probably) sing better than you think

Still from The Mind Reader (1933).

How ‘psychics’ use psychology to create the illusion of telepathy How ‘psychics’ use psychology to create the illusion of telepathy

By Chris French / MIT Press Reader