Thinking about death, fearing the unknown and worrying about the future aren’t traditionally considered sources of physical …
fear
How Terror Hijacks the Brain
How to Terrify the Fearless
A rare genetic condition that leaves people unable to feel fear provides clues about which regions in the brain regulate the emotion — and which may not.
Family MattersParenting
Key to a Well-Adjusted Child: Tailored Parenting?
Parenting advice is often black or white: Be firm and unwavering. Be loving and supportive. But new research shows that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be the best way to handle things. Rather than consistency, a parent’s …
How Fear Changes What We Hear
How does fear alter memory? A new study reveals that it can literally change our perception, a process that may help researchers better understand post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other anxiety disorders and possibly …
Why Pot Smokers Are Paranoid
Paranoia is one of the most unpleasant “side effects” of marijuana. It’s also a key experience shared by marijuana smokers and people with schizophrenia. But exactly how does smoking a joint cause the feeling that dark forces are …
Family MattersParenting
Kindergarteners Process the Earthquake in Japan
My family was awakened Friday morning on the West Coast by my parents on the East Coast: had we heard that the ripples from the earthquake and tsunami that had rocked Japan while we slept could hit Seattle?
Where Does Fear Come From? (Hint: It’s Not the Creepy Basement)
To the average observer, it would seem that 44-year-old patient “SM” was just another typical mother of three: she scores normally on IQ tests, has good language skills and a decent memory.
Explaining the Healing Power of Prayer
Why does prayer help people through hard times? To find out, a graduate student in sociology at University of Wisconsin-Madison interviewed 62 women who were the victims of partner violence.
