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SSRIs

The All-Natural (Difficult!) Alternative to Antidepressants

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on October 28, 2023

New research provides a comprehensive comparison of antidepressant medications to an all-natural alternative, finding equal effectiveness and better side effects.

New research provides a comprehensive comparison of antidepressant medications to an all-natural alternative, finding equal effectiveness and better side effects.

Loneliness

Understanding Age and Loneliness

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on October 6, 2023

Does being alone matter more for some people than others? Are relationships more important at certain ages? New research on loneliness and being alone provides surprising insights.

Does being alone matter more for some people than others? Are relationships more important at certain ages? New research on loneliness and being alone provides surprising insights.

Loneliness

Why Being Alone Isn't Loneliness

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on October 2, 2023

Being alone is not the same as being lonely. But how do we know how they are really related? My new research explores this further.

Being alone is not the same as being lonely. But how do we know how they are really related? My new research explores this further.

Social Networking

Does Facebook Make People Unhappy?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on August 21, 2023

New research combines data from almost 1 million people collected by Facebook and Gallup polling to answer the question: Are countries that use Facebook more unhappy?

New research combines data from almost 1 million people collected by Facebook and Gallup polling to answer the question: Are countries that use Facebook more unhappy?

ADHD

Can We Develop a Brain Test for ADHD?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on August 7, 2023

For two decades, researchers have searched for a way to diagnose ADHD by measuring the brain's electrical activity. Is a promising marker emerging from recent research?

For two decades, researchers have searched for a way to diagnose ADHD by measuring the brain's electrical activity. Is a promising marker emerging from recent research?

Emotions

Thinking Versus Feeling in the Brain

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on July 17, 2023

A debate from Plato to modern neuroscience: how do emotions and reason interact? New theories from neuroscientist Luiz Pessoa challenge conventional wisdom.

A debate from Plato to modern neuroscience: how do emotions and reason interact? New theories from neuroscientist Luiz Pessoa challenge conventional wisdom.

Replication Crisis

Dishonest Research on Honesty

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on June 25, 2023

Researchers have identified likely data manipulations by a Harvard Business School professor in a study on honesty. How should we treat such problems in psychology research?

Researchers have identified likely data manipulations by a Harvard Business School professor in a study on honesty. How should we treat such problems in psychology research?

Depression

TMS: Stimulating the Brain Back to Health

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on June 4, 2023

TMS is a the brain stimulation technique that's helping thousands of people improve their depression by changing overall patterns of brain activity.

TMS is a the brain stimulation technique that's helping thousands of people improve their depression by changing overall patterns of brain activity.

Depression

How Does Brain Stimulation Reduce Depression?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on May 21, 2023

In 2022, the FDA approved a new super-fast brain stimulation for depression. New research identified the change in the brain that may explain its success.

In 2022, the FDA approved a new super-fast brain stimulation for depression. New research identified the change in the brain that may explain its success.

Postpartum Depression

Can Stress During Pregnancy Affect Postpartum Depression?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on April 23, 2023

How does stress during pregnancy influence rates of postpartum depression? What factors help buffer against depression in new mothers? Researchers at Arizona State provide insight.

How does stress during pregnancy influence rates of postpartum depression? What factors help buffer against depression in new mothers? Researchers at Arizona State provide insight.

Replication Crisis

Writing in the Era of ChatGPT

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on March 6, 2023

Our fearless blogger faces the abyss. Will ChatGPT render technical writing and popular science communication skills irrelevant?

Our fearless blogger faces the abyss. Will ChatGPT render technical writing and popular science communication skills irrelevant?

Depression

The Pitfalls of Falsified Mental Health Research

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on February 19, 2023

The president of Stanford stands accused of falsifying data in his Alzheimer's research. What can we learn about the institutions that promote good mental health research?

The president of Stanford stands accused of falsifying data in his Alzheimer's research. What can we learn about the institutions that promote good mental health research?

Education

Can Machine Learning Solve Psychology's Replication Problem?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on February 7, 2023

Can we automate away psychology's replication problems?

Can we automate away psychology's replication problems?

Trauma

How a Legacy of Trauma Affects Parent-Child Relationships

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on December 23, 2022

How can a mother's childhood trauma influence her children?

How can a mother's childhood trauma influence her children?

Depression

The Mother’s Depression and the Child’s Heart

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on November 19, 2022

Mothers influence their children's health and well-being. But can infants change a mother's mental health?

Mothers influence their children's health and well-being. But can infants change a mother's mental health?

Genetics

Why Is Bad Science Allowed in the Courtroom?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on October 30, 2022

A new report finds that a forensic technique is unreliable and unscientific. Will it get banned from courtrooms?

A new report finds that a forensic technique is unreliable and unscientific. Will it get banned from courtrooms?

Social Networking

Facebook Caused Poor Mental Health From the Beginning

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on October 23, 2022

Researchers examined how Facebook's early rollout to colleges influenced mental health. What they found changes our understanding of what's harmful about social media.

Researchers examined how Facebook's early rollout to colleges influenced mental health. What they found changes our understanding of what's harmful about social media.

Friends

In the U.S. Nepotism Is Key to Economic Success

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on August 3, 2022

What predicts whether you will move up the income ladder in the U.S.? Having rich friends beats being smart, well-educated, or from a place with many jobs.

What predicts whether you will move up the income ladder in the U.S.? Having rich friends beats being smart, well-educated, or from a place with many jobs.

Career

Do Nudges Work?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on July 25, 2022

A new analysis suggests that "nudges" designed to change people's decisions may not be effective. But what does the analysis miss?

A new analysis suggests that "nudges" designed to change people's decisions may not be effective. But what does the analysis miss?

Depression

Serotonin Imbalance Found Not to Be Linked to Depression

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on July 22, 2022

Psychologists and doctors have long thought that antidepressants worked by increasing low levels of serotonin in the brain. New research overturns this consensus.

Psychologists and doctors have long thought that antidepressants worked by increasing low levels of serotonin in the brain. New research overturns this consensus.