Monitor on Psychology - March 2012 - (Page 16)
Brief
In
responsibilities reported getting almost an hour more sleep on nights before work, were less likely to feel obligated to work when sick and were more likely to seek medical help. (Journal of Health and Social Behavior, December) n A person’s risk of experiencing a heart attack increases by approximately 21 times in the first 24 hours after losing a loved one, according to a study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The study also showed that the risk of heart attack remained eight times above normal during the first week after the death of a loved one, slowly declining, but remaining elevated for at least a month. (Circulation, Jan. 9) n An obsession with the Internet may affect the wiring of the brain, according to researchers at Jiao Tong University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The researchers scanned the brains of 17 adolescents who reported preoccupation with the Internet, repeated attempts to control their use without success, and feelings of restlessness, moodiness, depression or irritability when they tried to curb their use. The scientists compared the scans with those of 16 healthy teens and found that those who appeared to be addicted to the Internet had abnormal patterns of white matter connecting the parts of their brains that are involved in decision-making. (PLoS One, Jan. 11) n Expectant moms with gestational diabetes are more likely to have children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to research conducted at Queens College
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Pigeons were able to show that five was more than two and perform other mathematical feats, a study found.
and half received a placebo patch. After six months of treatment, the nicotinetreated group regained 46 percent of normal long-term memory, while the placebo group’s memories worsened by 26 percent. (Neurology, Jan. 10) n Pigeons can count, and even perform abstract mathematical reasoning, finds a study led by researchers at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Similar to a landmark 1998 finding that rhesus monkeys can be taught arithmetical reasoning, the study found that pigeons can be taught to recognize groups of one, two or three objects on a screen and peck at them in proper numerical sequence. The birds were even able to correctly demonstrate that five was more than two, eight more than six and so on. (Science, December) n Vitamins and omega-3s may prevent the brain from shrinking as we age, according to research by scientists at the
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Oregon Health and Science University. In the study, researchers measured levels of more than 30 nutrients in the blood of 104 people with an average age of 87. They also conducted MRI scans of 42 participants to measure brain volume. Older adults with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins B, C, D and E in their blood had bigger brains and performed better on tests of executive function and attention, they found. Conversely, those with high levels of trans fats performed worse on tests of mental abilities and had smaller brains. (Neurology, Dec. 28) n Employees benefit from flexible work hours, finds a study led by researchers at the University of Minnesota. The team analyzed longitudinal data collected from 659 employees at Best Buy’s headquarters. They found that employees who were allowed to change their schedules and whereabouts based on their individual needs and job
M o n i to r o n p s yc h o l o g y • M a rc h 2 0 1 2
http://hsb.sagepub.com/content/52/4/404.abstract
http://hsb.sagepub.com/content/52/4/404.abstract
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/early/2012/01/09/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.061770.abstract
http://www.neurology.org/content/78/2/91.abstract
http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2011/12/28/WNL.0b013e3182436598.abstract
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0030253
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/334/6063/1664.abstract
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - March 2012
Monitor on Psychology - March 2012
Letters
President’s column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court rejects eyewitness protections
New member benefit: prevention screenings
A psychodynamic treatment for PTSD shows promise for soldiers
Was ‘Little Albert’ ill during the famed conditioning study?
New research identifies ways to improve eyewitness identifications
In Brief
‘Our health at risk’
Perspective on Practice
APA endorses higher education guidelines
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Help for struggling veterans
Driving out cancer disparities
In the Public Interest
SCIENCE WATCH
Practice, virtually
The legal and ethical issues of virtual therapy
Psychologist PROFILE
EARLY CAREER PSYCHOLOGY
Bringing life into focus
Pay attention to me
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Division Spotlight
Personalities
Monitor on Psychology - March 2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/member_benefits
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201109_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/apa/monitor_201109
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com