Neuronarrative

Musings on the complicated business of thinking

by David DiSalvo

What Is Science-Help?

Since the publication of my book, "What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite", I’ve given several interviews, and during each one I’ve been asked to elaborate on a term I used in the book’s introduction and closing chapter: “Science-help.” Read More

Ten Impressive Psychology Studies from 2011

Several great psychology studies were conducted in 2011 and it's hard to choose just ten to write about. In a list that's anything but exhaustive, here are the studies that impressed me the most from the past year. Read More

Why Moral Self-Regulation Makes Your Brain Happy

The subtlety of the moral self-regulation effect is on the level of background noise—it's happening all the time and we rarely give it a second thought. Read More

Study: Trick Your Brain at Lunch and Lose Weight

Could losing weight be as easy as soup and crackers for lunch a few times a week? A new study from researchers at Cornell University suggests that it is, but for a reason that may not seem immediately obvious. Read More

The Tornado Is Never Far for Those with Anxiety

A few years ago I was diagnosed with something called Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Just hearing the term made me skeptical, since it sounded so, you know, general. It struck me as a catch-all "disorder" to label everyone for whom a specific disorder doesn't apply. Read More

Narcissists Already Know What You Think of Them, But Do They Care?

Are pathological narcissists blind to their affliction? In the parlance of the DSM-IV, is narcissism a true personality disorder or a character disorder? Read More

Not All Crying Is Depression: Understanding Pseudobulbar Affect

You're having a calm discussion with a friend about a topic you don’t find emotional whatsoever, and you notice that tears are welling up in your friend’s eyes. You ask your friend if you inadvertently said something hurtful, and the reply is, “No, I really don’t know why I’m reacting this way, I’m fine.” Read More

Five Things “Angry Birds” Will Teach You About Life

Feeling bad about spending so much time playing "Angry Birds"? Take heart. The game is teaching you lessons about life you may have not even considered. Read More

The Power and Perils of Being Born 'Gifted'

We've all seen examples of incredible talent wasted—of the kid who was told from an early age how smart, athletic, artistic, etc. she is, but never develops those abilities beyond a basic level. According to everyone around these kids they were destined for greatness, but eventually they learned—often too late—that destiny is overrated. Read More

What Kind of Adapter Are You?

Your adaptive style is what you do with the 'You' as you face the vicissitudes of living. Without this capacity to adapt, our natural style doesn't stand a chance. Life throws too many complex obstacles our way to never make adjustments. To adapt is to live. Read More

The Noble Lineage of Indecision

William James, polymath and godfather of modern psychology, was known far and wide as fanatically indecisive. Knowing this about himself, yet valuing what he called "risk assuming decisiveness" as a mark of true character, he came up with a solution, which he called "self conscious impulsivity." He would act decisively, and then just as decisively, change his mind. Read More

Religion vs Atheism: Which Side Fights Dirtier?

Reasonable people, religious or otherwise, can agree to argue reasonably, without toxic assaults that only add to the rage. At least in theory. But the reality is that wherever these debates are happening, strong feelings overpower restraint. Hate mail, bile-laden comments and death threats are unfortunately not uncommon. Read More

When the Powerful Feel Incompetent, the Rest of Us Feel Their Wrath

Your boss calls and says he wants to see you in his office. You’re not sure why – nothing in particular comes to mind that would put you in his crosshairs. In fact, you’ve actually been doing a great job lately. Even your boss’s boss said so in a staff meeting the other day, right in front of everyone, including your boss. What could be the problem? Read More

What Jurors in the Casey Anthony Murder Case are Thinking

For a juror, the psychological conflict is palpable. In one sense, they are following an emotional narrative featuring a victim, a villain, and a cast of supporting characters—some good, some bad, most somewhere in between. The trial is a story told from different perspectives, and the jury is the audience taking it all in from front row seats. Read More

How We Know You're Lying

Research suggests that without training, our ability to tell if someone is lying is on par with rolling dice -- no better than chance. Fortunately, studies of deception have uncovered clues for catching liars in the act. Read More

Whether "Beast" or "Virus" Metaphor Is Powerful Stuff

Is crime a "hungry beast" or a "rapidly spreading virus"? Recent research suggests that the metaphors you are presented with will color your thinking in ways you may not even realize. Read More

Insights from the Psychology of Hiring

What does risk aversion, the affinity effect and a good sense of humor have to do with landing a job? As it turns out, quite a lot. Read More

Got a Problem? There's a Brain Area for That!

A visit to the lighter side with a bit of neruo buffoonery. Read More

On Sanctioning Bad Behavior and Feeling Good About It

There's a presumption among many that medical science has come along far enough to wall off our behavioral choices from their outcomes, especially when it comes to cardiovascular disease. Read More

Packaging Ourselves to Death

No matter how far we've come, much of our culture is still devoted to concealment and pretense. The messages we ingest every day come packaged--in some cases to enhance the meaning of the message, and in others to disguise something that lives behind it. Read More

Why Your Brain Is Better in Love

The old saying is true: your brain is the sexiest part of your body. Science writer Jena Pincott explains a few reasons why. Read More

Power Balance Scam Shows Again that the Pseudoscience Song Remains the Same

The Power Balance scam teaches us a lesson that so few people seem to ever learn: we're more gullible than we'd like to believe, and we're easier marks than we'd like to admit. Read More

Neuroscience Explains Why the Grinch Stole Christmas

We all know Dr. Seuss's iconic tale of the green ogre who lives on a mountain, seething while the Whos in the village below celebrate Christmas. The happier they are, the angrier he gets, until finally he can't take it anymore and hatches a plan to steal away their joy. But Why? Read More

Ten Psychology Studies from 2010 Worth Knowing About

Around this time of year, I like to take a tour of psychology studies from the last twelve months and pick out those that I think are really worth knowing about. There are, of course, several others that deserve mention, but the ten below are those that struck me as especially intriguing, with the added benefit of also being useful. Read More

The Treble Hook in Your To-Do List

In fishing, treble hooks are effective tools. But in your daily to-do list lurks a metaphorical treble hook that is gaffing you three ways, and undermining the reasons you are keeping the list in the first place. Read More

Expecting Rapid Feedback Makes You Brace for the Worst, While Performing Your Best

Motivation to perform well and pessimistic expectations are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they seem to get along famously. Read More

When it Comes to Trusting Authority, Moral Conviction and Religiosity Part Ways

It's typically assumed that a high degree of religiosity is synonymous with a high degree of moral conviction -- they're popularly thought to go hand-in-hand. But is that really true? Read More

Five Ways to Avoid Getting Ripped Off

Rip offs come in many flavors. Often they are financial, but they can also be related to any behavior someone wants you to engage in that, in truth, isn't in your best interest. Here are five ways to avoid being ripped off financially or otherwise. Read More

Vampires vs Zombies: Who's Winning the War for the Recession Psyche?

I'm of the opinion that the horror we appreciate most tends to mirror what's going on in our lives. Since we've been suffering the worst recesssion in nearly a century, makes sense that the monsters we gravitate toward will be projections of what we're feeling - and we haven't been feeling so great. Read More

A Tasty True Story About Knowing When to Break the Rules

The restaurant owner gave a handful of reasons why he thinks people will wait an hour in a line trailing outside into the parking lot to eat his BBQ, but his main reason was simple: he broke the rules. Read More