Food for thought: What happens in the brain when you eat the whole bag of chips?

We all enjoy a tasty snack every now and then, and we usually have personal preferences for specific foods. Some of us may prefer chocolate, whereas others prefer potato chips. Sometimes we may get a little carried away snacking, ending up eating way more than we intended. So, what happens in the brain when we […]

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Identifying threatening language

In October 2008, ‘Year2183’ posted a message on the anti-Muslim website ‘Gates of Vienna’, arguing that Muslims should be forcibly deported from Norway. Three years later, on 22 July 2011, the same individual posted and e-mailed a 1500-page document describing his extreme-right ideology and the extensive preparations that he made before killing 77 people in […]

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Sherlock’s memory palace could use animacy: Animacy and animate imagery improve memory retention

Around this time of year, when the weather is cooling and the leaves are turning, I love to snuggle up on the couch and watch a good crime mystery! One of my absolute favorite shows is BBC’s, Sherlock, a television crime drama based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes detective stories. The show stars […]

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Whispers from within (or lack thereof)

Have you ever found yourself whispering something to yourself in the comfort of your own head? If you had, you’re not alone. Many people – but not all – do. This phenomenon is known as internal verbalization or inner speech.  Curiously, people who don’t experience internal verbalization are surprised about the notion of others “listening” […]

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Fickle memory! Why can I recall a thing but not recognize it?

Memory is such a fickle thing. Have you ever found yourself forgetting things that you should have remembered and remembered things that you should have forgotten? This happens to me all the time! I can completely forget where I placed my cell phone, even if placed minutes ago. However, I can remember lyrics to a […]

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To sleep, perchance to learn speech motor control

The night before a big exam, college students may attempt to “study” by listening to their recorded notes while they fall asleep. They may feel that processing the information before sleep will help them remember it better the next day. A number of studies have shown this to be effective, even though it didn’t help […]

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He’s right behind you! Distraction by gaze cues is difficult to override

One of life’s most difficult challenges is keeping information a secret, even when well-intentioned. Imagine you need to plan a surprise party for your dad. You send out the invitations, order a cake, and buy the decorations. When you’re talking over these details with your brother, he suddenly looks toward the door. Naturally, you look […]

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