Lou Dobbs thinks I’m a silly fool. He said so last year, right on the radio. Dobbs was mad at me because of a story I wrote about how quickly ethnic names are disappearing in favor of Americanized ones among second- and …
Mental Health
Brain Science: Does Being Left-Handed Make You Angry?
We used to think that the left brain controlled your thinking and that the right brain controlled your heart. But neuroscientists have learned that it’s a lot more complicated.
Free Play Won’t Make Your Child Smarter
It might seem odd to think of pre-kindergarten toddlers as students in need of teachers, but the latest research suggests that some form of instruction may help children to better prepare for school.
Why Depressed Medical Students Stigmatize Depression
Medical students tend to hold negative stereotypes about depression when they suffer from the disorder themselves. Why? The high-pressure, cutthroat environment of medical school may be to blame.
The Mysterious Case of Donald T., Autism’s First Child
The Atlantic has an absorbing tale in the current issue about the first person ever diagnosed with autism. The man, now 77, is named Donald Gray Triplett and the story’s authors tracked him down in Mississippi where — 74 years after he was institutionalized for exhibiting introverted behavior — he spends his days playing golf, …
Want to Make Quicker Decisions? Muzzle Your Brain
People with anxiety disorders such as OCD know that nothing can be more paralyzing than having too many options. Go to a store to buy a sweater, find four that you like and the odds are pretty good you’ll stare and stare…and …
Who’s High? A School Suspends a Student for Bloodshot Eyes
California may be considering the full legalization of marijuana, but in Texas, a student was recently suspended from school for having red eyes.
Under Stress? You Might Suffer Less If You’re Male
Men just scored a small victory in the gender wars, courtesy of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Turns out, when a guy says he responds to stress with more control than his wife does, he knows what he’s talking …
Drug Use in the Over-50 Crowd Doubles
Getting old and getting wasted didn’t used to have a lot to do with each other. But oldsters love a buzz just like anyone else, and increasingly, they’re indulging.
Evidence Review: Anti-Drinking Drug Shows Modest Success
Only three medications are approved by the government to treat alcoholism: Antabuse (disulfiram), Revia (naltrexone) and Campral (acamprosate). None is anything close to a cure, but a new review of the research on acamprosate …
A Five-Minute Brain Scan Tracks Kids’ Development and May Spot Disorders
Researchers have designed a scanning test that can measure the maturity of the brain, a technology that may someday help doctors determine whether children are developing normally and identify those who might be at risk of …
It’s World Suicide Prevention Day: What You Can Do to Help
Every day 3,000 people end their own lives, and for every person who dies, there are 20 more people who unsuccessfully attempt a suicide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the United States alone, that amounts to one death by suicide every 16 minutes, says the National Council for Suicide Prevention (NCSP).
Another Reason to Hire Female CEOs: Less Testosterone
Young male CEOs’ hormones sometimes get the better of their economic reasoning. Especially around the issues of merging and acquiring. So more companies should have women CEOs. At least that’s the way we’re reading a new …