C is for Cognition

Memory

Taking Pictures Might Impair Your Memory

Ashley N. D. Meyer Ph.D. on March 3, 2014

Pictures have many advantages. They allow us to share our memories with others, convey a thousand words, and most importantly, to rely on the camera’s memory rather than on our own. We can review our photos after an event and reminisce. The act of taking photos, on the other hand, might actually impair our memory according to a new study.

Pictures have many advantages. They allow us to share our memories with others, convey a thousand words, and most importantly, to rely on the camera’s memory rather than on our own. We can review our photos after an event and reminisce. The act of taking photos, on the other hand, might actually impair our memory according to a new study.

Intelligence

The Ironic Adverse Effects of Expertise

Ashley N. D. Meyer Ph.D. on January 28, 2014

Intelligence agents, experts in risky decision-making, are more prone to decision-making biases than other people and they are more confident in their decisions. This may be an unfortunate side effect of being an expert.

Intelligence agents, experts in risky decision-making, are more prone to decision-making biases than other people and they are more confident in their decisions. This may be an unfortunate side effect of being an expert.

Confidence

Are Doctors Overconfident?

Ashley N. D. Meyer Ph.D. on August 27, 2013

In many areas of expertise, including medicine, people can be overconfident about their judgments and decisions and they may not recognize when they are wrong. Physicians may be no exception.

In many areas of expertise, including medicine, people can be overconfident about their judgments and decisions and they may not recognize when they are wrong. Physicians may be no exception.

We can betray our fear and spread it to others through our facial expressions, through the sounds we make, and even through the chemicals in our sweat.

Attention

Idle Hands for Better Communication

Ashley N. D. Meyer Ph.D. on June 7, 2013

When the part of a person’s motor cortex associated with gesturing is being used for something else, like playing games on his or her phone, that part of the cortex is not as able to help one understand someone else's gestures, which are important to communication.

When the part of a person’s motor cortex associated with gesturing is being used for something else, like playing games on his or her phone, that part of the cortex is not as able to help one understand someone else's gestures, which are important to communication.

It is frustrating when I can’t remember something. I would like to think that my mind is a steel trap. Unfortunately, it isn’t. Minutes ago, I found myself thinking, “Why can’t I remember the name of that book? I know it’s in my head somewhere: I just read the title a second ago on that piece of paper. Where’s that piece of paper? … ”