When I called to interview Dr. Michael Jenike — one of the world’s leading experts on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) — he noted that I’d reached him exactly on the dot, and joked that I might have a touch of OCD myself. …
Mental Health
1 in 5 Kids With an Autistic Sibling Show Subtle Symptoms Too
It’s not easy being the brother or sister of an autistic child. “Typical” siblings sometimes feel embarrassed by or responsible for their autistic sib, or may feel jealous of all the attention he gets. Now researchers have found …
Study: Walking Is a Brain Exercise Too
I am often teased for my stubborn habit of traveling by foot. I often walk the 3 mi. home from work rather than take the subway. When I visit less pedestrian-friendly cities, kindhearted motorists regularly pull over and offer me …
How the Chilean Miners Will Cope: Q&A with a Trauma Expert
On Wednesday night, as the world watched, the last of the 33 trapped Chilean miners made it safely to the surface. After having spent more than two months underground in a collapsed mine, the men emerged remarkably physically …
Q&A: Discussing the Dark Side of Medicine with Author Carl Elliott
Welcome to Mind Reading, Healthland’s new series of talks with authors of “brainy” books.
Study: College Students Drink More While Studying Abroad
College campuses are hotbeds of drinking activity, but new research suggests that students consume up to twice as much alcohol when they study abroad versus staying on campus.
The Marijuana Number That Was Too Good to Check
Over the last few years, supporters and opponents of marijuana legalization have both cited the same statistic to back their cause: 60% of the profits made by violent Mexican drug lords come from marijuana. But now, it seems, …
Study: Why Deafness May Improve Vision
Scientists have long known that deaf or blind people have heightened senses outside of their impairment. But what hasn’t been clear is how the mechanics of a compensating sense work.
Bowl Half Empty? How to Tell If Your Dog Is a Pessimist
The only time my dog’s tail stops wagging is when she’s asleep. She’s a really happy pup, in other words — or at least I thought she was. The lead author of a new study in the journal Current Biology suggests she may have a …
How Retail Therapy Works: Spending Money for Social Acceptance
It was a pattern that Nicole Mead had seen over and over. Her friends would break up with their romantic partners and then go on a shopping spree to compensate: break up and buy, break up and buy, break up and buy. As a marketing …
Why Spamming Your Friends With Cute Kitties Is Good Karma
Oh, hai! I’ll admit it upfront: I’m a sucker for cat pictures and videos. When the latest kitteh goes viral, you can bet it will turn up on my screen. But I’m hardly alone. These silly videos of cats, kittens and other things …
I Don’t Actually Hate Myself: Why Harvard Is Wrong About Bias
My colleague Maia Szalavitz wrote a great piece we posted Monday on how an online test developed at Harvard can help uncover hidden biases in how you treat people.
The Authentic Self: How Do You Know If You’re ‘Really’ Racist or Sexist?
(Updated) In a world of constant scrutiny and infinite memory, what once might have been a fleeting moment of lost control can easily become a life-shattering scandal. Just ask Rick Sanchez, the CNN anchor who was recently fired, …