brain mapping disorders

An ever growing number of studies feature brain mapping to illustrate structural differences in the brain based on grouping those with and without a given disorder. Techniques such as structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can aid in researchers understanding of differences in shape and volume of various brain regions. Group differences are often found, yet [...]

Self-Control is important, and teachable to some extent

Self-control or behavioral disinhibition has been implicated in a number of psychiatric disorders, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It may be a mediating factor responsible for the lowered academic performance found among many children with ADHD.
The ability to inhibit responses may predict academic performance even better than IQ. This New Yorker article reviews studies of self-regulation [...]

One example of how animal research can help humans

Human and animal studies have found that brains go through substantial
synaptic pruning during childhood, removing approximately half of all synapses until puberty. While the pruning of synapses is a natural process, some researchers have theorized that schizophrenia arises from excessive pruning (Siekmeier & Hoffman, 2002). Presuming schizophrenia is a disorder of disruptions in neural connectivity [...]

Our first post

Welcome to the new Psychology In Action blog!
Our hope here is to talk about reseach findings and interesting aspects of life that are somehow connected to what it is we do every day, all day, namely studying psychology.
So read on, and enjoy! We’ll try to keep things short, interesting, and relevant, so come back often [...]