Everyone employs bias—otherwise known as cognitive shortcuts—in their lives every day. Imagine you’re scrolling through your social media feed and immediately dismiss a news article because it comes from a source you don’t typically trust. Or maybe you’re convinced your favorite restaurant is the best in town, remembering all the great meals you’ve eaten there while forgetting that mediocre dinner last month. [Read more…]
Can We Train Students’ Brains to Be Less Biased?
October 7, 2025 By
What’s Driving Suicidal Thoughts in Young People?
September 23, 2025 By
It’s well-established that mental health among adolescents has declined over the past two decades, and researchers have been working to understand why more young people are dying by suicide. [Read more…]
How Childhood Resources Affect Risk-Taking Later in Life
September 23, 2025 By
It’s no surprise that individual families provide different types of resources to their children; for example, some are able to provide more financial resources, while others offer more robust social supports. [Read more…]
What We Know About Self-Regulation and Technology Among Kids
September 22, 2025 By
Nearly half of teenagers report being online nearly constantly, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. And “screen-time” is pervasive among younger children, surveys show.
There’s no question that today’s youth are growing up in a culture ruled by digital technology. This phenomenon affects almost every aspect of their lives, including educational opportunities, social interactions, and personal development. Self-regulation—the ability to control impulses, organize behavior, and problem-solve constructively—is an important aspect that affects how young people interact with digital technology. [Read more…]
Diet, Not Activity Level, Leads to Obesity
September 20, 2025 By
Despite diet fads, exercise trends, and health and fitness influencers across social media, obesity rates continue to grow among adults in Westernized countries. In the U.S. alone, more than 40 percent of U.S. adults were considered obese in 2023, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Read more…]
Are Left-Handed People Really More Creative?
September 20, 2025 By
Have you heard the common trope that left-handed people are more successful in creative endeavors? There are plenty of anecdotal examples to make the case: Michelangelo, Albert Einstein, Paul McCartney, and Lady Gaga, to name a few. [Read more…]
How to Improve Sleep Among Long-Term Care Residents
September 19, 2025 By
Approximately 1.2 million Americans live in certified nursing homes, and another 1 million live in assisted living facilities. It’s common for residents in these facilities to have roommates, 24/7 medical devices, and round-the-clock nursing care. Not surprisingly, people living in these environments frequently experience sleep disturbances. [Read more…]
A Sense of Purpose Promotes Cognitive Health
September 18, 2025 By
The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050—a 41 percent increase. As the U.S. population grows older, cognitive decline is a significant concern. [Read more…]
How Cultural Norms May Influence Sleep and Health
September 17, 2025 By
Sleep is foundational to our health. A large body of data links poor sleep to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression. There’s also evidence that unhealthy sleeping habits may lead to sexual dysfunction and that sleep quality is associated with mood. [Read more…]
Black Students Still Receive More Punishment in Schools
September 16, 2025 By
In 2018, a ground-breaking analysis of federal education data clearly established that Black students are disproportionately disciplined in public schools.
Since then, researchers have documented the negative effects of this disparity—encouraging defiance; harming academic achievement, school climate, and mental health; and accelerating exposure to the juvenile justice system. In response, some schools have implemented new policies and practices designed to reduce racial disparities in punishment. [Read more…]
4 Proven Steps to Better Brain Health
September 15, 2025 By
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Its network of electrical systems modulates the entire human experience—breathing, heart rate, movement, feelings, memory, cognition, and more! [Read more…]
Technology Use May Slow Cognitive Decline
June 9, 2025 By
The baby boomers are the first generation that has navigated adulthood using digital technology. The oldest baby boomers were around 25 when the first e-mail was sent; they were the first generation to have home computers and personal smartphones. [Read more…]
