Why can’t some people resist skating on thin ice?

Whenever we have a cold snap, people venture onto the ice - sometimes with disastrous results if they fall through. But why do some people take that risk of skating on thin ice?

Gert-Jan Lelieveld • March 09, 2018

'Justify your Alpha': how 88 scientists wrote a Nature journal paper via Google Docs

Working together, we get the job done: our paper on justifying your alpha, recently accepted by Nature Human Behavior, was the fruit of a great collaboration by 88 authors. How? Google Docs!

Zsuzsika Sjoerds • February 28, 2018

World Compliment Day: The Science Behind Praise

When was the last time someone gave you a compliment? Do you recall how it made you feel appreciated and recognized? In celebration of World Compliment Day, let’s explore the science behind why compliments feel so good and why we should give more of them.

Suzanne van de Groep • February 26, 2018

Tempted to skip your workout today?

When you’re super busy, or tired after a long day at work, is the first thing you cross off your schedule your workout? (“I’ll hit the gym tomorrow instead, I promise!”). Well, that’s exactly what you should not be doing…

Bianca Westhoff • January 29, 2018

Shy parent, shy child?

Not only extreme shyness runs in families, but also an early brain response related to shyness, our family study shows. This finding can inform future research on genetic and environmental factors that play a role in the development of extreme shyness.

• January 15, 2018

Brain changes underlying social anxiety: numbers count!

In a recent mega-analysis, researchers from Leiden University aimed to clarify the contradictory findings of research into social anxiety disorder. They found that to obtain reliable research results having the largest possible sample size is important.

Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam • January 04, 2018

More efficient mental health care using outcome feedback technology

With the rising costs of mental health care and large numbers of patients not benefitting from treatment in routine care, there is an urgent need for psychological treatments to become more effective and efficient. Our solution? Bring in technology.

Kim de Jong and Jaime Delgadillo • December 21, 2017

A smartphone induced brain-drain

Smartphones enrich our lives. But they may also monopolize some of our mental resources when we need them most, without us even realizing!

Lisa Schreuders • December 18, 2017

Feeling sleepy, feeling risky?

Sleep-deprived? New research shows this can change your behavior in an unexpected way: how many risks you take.

Neeltje Blankenstein • December 05, 2017