Truly awesome data Researchers perform studies to test their hypothesis. Yet, some hypotheses require data so special, that they are rarely tested. The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety provides researchers in Leiden, Amsterdam, and Groningen with such special data Anne-Wil Kruijt • December 09, 2013
Thanksgiving: who feels most grateful? Last week was Thanksgiving – a day to reflect on things we are grateful for. People who dwell on past experiences are generally less happy in life than people who are able to detach themselves. How would ‘detachers’ and ‘dwellers’ feel after Thanksgiving? Marijke van Putten • December 05, 2013
Tis better to have feared and fled, than never to have feared at all Fleeing from a fearful situation is not always a good response to threat. However, the program of Social Anxiety & School Refusal points out that for some school refusers the choice of self-preservation can be a valuable lesson. David Heyne • November 18, 2013
Don't go to sleep! Feeling down? Perhaps experiencing some winter blues? Sleep deprivation might be the answer. Neuroscientists at Tufts University have revealed an interesting mechanism behind this puzzling solution, by investigating the role of astrocytes. Claudia Pama • November 11, 2013
Do the peanut butter sniff test By using the peanut butter test it is possible to determine whether someone is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. This is the outcome of a study published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences. Rebecca Joubert • November 06, 2013
Compassion and when to feel it People can feel compassion when they see somebody in physical or psychological pain. Not every observed suffering, however, leads to feelings of compassion. What exactly is compassion, and can we predict under which circumstances we experience it? Fieke Harinck • November 04, 2013
Neuroscience in the classroom? Neuroscientific results are increasingly popular amongst teachers. But what does it mean if children with learning disabilities show less activity in a certain brain area, and can we really use this information in the classroom? Sabine Peters • October 30, 2013
Learning is a series of sprints, not a marathon Many students (and people in general) like to mass their efforts to boost short-term performance when an important exam or deadline is approaching. Scientific research points to a more functional and efficient long-term strategy to raise performance. • October 28, 2013
Bad hair day? What strands of hair can tell us about stress Hair analysis has been used for decades to detect drug abuse. However, recent studies suggest that hair also contains levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This yields unique retrospective information about stress exposure. Jiska Peper • October 09, 2013
