The cold is bad enough, but winter’s shorter days make the season a downer, to say the least. But how real is seasonal affective disorder (aptly known as SAD)?
Mental Health
Take That! Athletes’ Victory Stances Are All About Dominance, Not Pride
Every time an athlete triumphs over another, his first instinct is to do a victory dance.
The Literary Misery Index: What the Economy Has to Do With What You’re Reading
Authors tend to write about what they see and experience, including economic hardship, according to a new study.
Viewpoint: The Search for the Real Numbers Behind Marijuana Use
Where two major columnists— David Brooks of the New York Times and Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post— went wrong when they weighed in on the debate over legalizing marijuana.
Muting Marijuana’s High: Pot Without the Impairment
As legal sales of marijuana begin in Colorado, researchers have discovered a natural hormone that can block the drug’s high.
Viewpoint: Why Brain Death Isn’t An On-Off Switch
Thirteen-year-old Jahi McMath was declared brain dead after complications arising from a tonsillectomy, raising new questions about how we define brain death, and whether it’s time to revise our understanding of when brains can …
Here Are the New Year’s Resolutions You Will Keep, and the Ones That You Will Break
In theory, New Year’s resolutions are a good thing — it’s all about improving something we don’t like about ourselves, right?
Erasing Painful Memories With Shock Treatment
Using electroshock therapy, scientists say it may be possible to get rid of specific emotional memories.
Why Girls’ Brains Mature Faster Than Boys’ Brains
It’s always been conventional wisdom that girls reach maturity more quickly than boys, but now scientists have provided some proof.
Do All-Girls Schools Breed Feminists or Mean Girls?
What happens when girls aren’t under the scrutiny of boys? Do they get more girly or less so?
Why the Holidays Don’t Make Everyone Feel So Jolly
With all the celebrations around the holidays, mental health experts say it’s worth remembering that mood disorders and emotional issues may also climb as gatherings and social pressures magnify certain tensions.
60% of High School Seniors Do Not Think Marijuana Is Harmful
A new survey from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that marijuana use among young people is on the rise.
Pot Smokers and Schizophrenic Patients May Share Similar Brain Changes
The latest data suggest that it’s possible to be a pothead.