Under the Cortex

At one point or another, you have had a song stuck in your head. These intrusive melodies, commonly called earworms, can sometimes provide amusement while other times they can be unrelenting annoyances. New research published in the journal Psychological Science reveals, however, that nighttime earworms can have a real negative impact on our quality of sleep, which can eventually lead to a cascading series of problems, such as lack of concentration, changes in appetite, lower work productive, among many others. 

Michael Scullin from Baylor University talks to us about his research examining this phenomenon of sleep-disturbing earworms and how popular tunes can impact our sleep. 

www.psychologicalscience.org 

APS's Ludmila Nunes and Charles Blue present their second sneak preview of the 2021 APS Virtual Convention. Day 1 was thrilling and Day 2 promises new insights and opportunities to hear from noted experts and researchers from around the world. Join us to learn more about the latest findings from the field of psychological science. Connect to the meeting and all APS content at: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/ 

APS's Charles Blue and Ludmila Nunes offer a sneak preview of day one of the 2021 APS Virtual Convention, May 26-27. They discuss engaging plenary talks and panel discussions as well as new offerings like hot topics and flash talks. Registration is still available and much of the content will be "on demand" so virtual attendees can enjoy it at their leisure. Connect to the meeting and all APS content at: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/

Conflicts driven by nationalism, ideologies, and cultures have become all too common.  What can psychological science tell us about the causes and mental processes that push people from activism to radicalization? To shine some light on this topic, we hear from Kees van den Bos at the University of Utrecht, who is an expert on the study of radicalization. For more information, visit https://www.psychologicalscience.org/ 

Human brains can do more than simply imagine the presence of nonexistent objects. Our minds can automatically create well-defined representations of objects that are merely implied rather than seen, like the obstacles in a mime’s performance. These findings could aid in the development of artificial intelligence related to vision and navigation by helping understand how humans perceive and navigate their environments. Chaz Firestone (Johns Hopkins University) and Pat Little (New York University) talk with Charles Blue about their Psychological Science paper on mimes and implied surface. 

Read the full news release here. 

Many organizations present awards that recognize outstanding scientific achievement in a variety of disciplines, but these are typically given later in a scientist’s career. There are many scientists, however, who have made exceptional contributions and discoveries early in their careers. These researchers tend to be on the cutting edge of new and exciting fields. To recognize these deserving younger researchers, the Association for Psychological Science presents the Janet Taylor Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions. Since its inauguration, the Spence Award has gone to more than 70 outstanding psychological scientists.

In this special episode of Under the Cortex, we talk with some of the most recent Spence Award winners. Each is considered one of APS’s most creative and promising investigators. Today, you’ll hear from six of them: Arielle Baskin-Sommers from Yale University, Sudeep Bhatia from the University of Pennsylvania, Eiko Fried from Leiden University, Celeste Kidd from the University of California at Berkeley, Steven Roberts from Stanford University, and Daisy Singla from the University of Toronto.

Read more about their backgrounds in the latest edition of the Observer.

Past studies have demonstrated that opinions based on hard facts and data can remain constant for many years, but new research published in the journal Psychological Science reveals that attitudes based on feelings and emotions can also stand the test of time. Charles Blue interviews Matthew Rocklage and Andrew Luttrell, authors of the Psychological Science article "Attitudes Based on Feelings: Fixed and Fleeting?" Read the full news release here. 

Reflecting on the President's Column in the March/April issue of the Observer, NPR science correspondent Joe Palca, who earned a PhD in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, offers his unique take on the evolution of methodologies in science, from landers on Mars to big data and psychological science.  

APS's Charles Blue talks with APS Founding Member Dr. Janet Jones, author of the book Horse Brain, Human Brain. With her background as a brain scientist, horse trainer, and writer, Dr. Jones has unique insights into applying brain function to the training of horses and riders. 

Social conflicts, from policy debates to family disagreements, can easily devolve into angry words and personal attacks. Such heated confrontations, however, seldom resolve disagreements and can entrench opposing views. A better approach to resolving interpersonal disagreements is to embrace characteristics that psychological scientists associate with wisdom, like intellectual humility, diverse viewpoints, and open-mindedness. APS's Charles Blue interviews Igor Grossmann about his recent research on training for wisdom.