Psychology

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

Latest in Psychology

Example of paired images used during free-view eyetracking study. These image pairs focused on participant reactions to spider versus other arthropods – (A) spider versus butterfly, (B) spider versus insect, (C) spider eyes versus insect eyes, (D) spider versus non-spider arachnid, and (E) spider versus myriapod. We also included a paired image of (F) scorpion versus non-scorpion arachnid to gain insight into whether participants respond differently to spiders versus scorpions (e.g., d vs. f).

Psychologists made people look at spiders. They didn’t like it.

a white dog with ears perked up and wide eyes against a blue background

Cortisol could impact your dog’s behavior

By Laura Baisas

Poison warning label layered atop brown hair

Hair samples reveal the benefits of lead regulation

A vibrant stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. In the center, a young wizard is being sorted under a floating hat by a man in a brown suit. Four large, illuminated banners representing the Hogwarts houses—Gryffindor (red), Ravenclaw (blue), Hufflepuff (yellow), and Slytherin (green)—hang from the gothic arches of the Great Hall, while students in robes watch from the sides.

A Harry Potter quiz may predict your career prospects

By Clarissa Brincat

An x-ray image of the brain showing a blue outline of a person's upper skull and bright, glowing yellow brain.

What’s a false memory? Psychologists explain how your brain can lie.

By RJ Mackenzie

a grandmother and grand child lay with colorful blocks

Babysitting grandkids can boost brain health

By Laura Baisas

a man anxiously sitting in front of a computer with his hand over his mouth

It’s not in your head. Fear drives decision making.

By Laura Baisas

Yellow bananas arranged against a blue background

Penis size may matter more to men than women

a brown cow with a large stick in her mouth and mountains in the background

Veronika the Cow shocks scientists by using a tool

By Laura Baisas

Close up of man's hands reaching into box of apples at orchard

Test your apple farming skills with this free video game

a dog surrounded by stuffed animals

Super smart dogs learn by eavesdropping

By Laura Baisas

A stylized digital collage featuring chess pieces, including a red king, set against a target-like background of concentric circles and a red-and-white checkered pattern.

Chess or video games—which actually makes you smarter? The answer may surprise you.

By Clarissa Brincat

Hand holding TV remote in front of out of focus TV screen

A little TV after a long day is good for your brain

pills of various sizes laid out in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and pink order

Addiction is puzzling. Scientists are trying to understand why.

By Hanna Pickard

Swearing and smiling emojis side by side on blue background

Go ahead and swear—it’s good for your health

Young sad girl sitting alone at home on sofa listening to sad music on wireless headphones crying and wiping her nose with a paper tissue.

Pop music has gotten sadder over the last 50 years

close up of white lab rat inside cage

If offered, rats will use cannabis to deal with stress

two donkeys looking directly at the camera in a green field with a blue sky

Why using a donkey to treat whooping cough makes sense

By Laura Baisas

a mom and daughter camping with their dog. a tall mountain is in the foreground

Pet dogs can help teens’ mental health

By Laura Baisas

A dramatic, low-light photo of a person with dark skin against a blue background, experiencing intense distress or pain. They are clenching their jaw and holding their hands to the sides of their head, with blurred motion around their head suggesting movement, panic, or disorientation.

What happens to your body during a panic attack?