psychology

What’s happening in your brain when you’re spacing out?

When your mind is wandering, your brain is actually quite active, according to new research. This supports the idea that straying thoughts are an important part of our psychology.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki March 23, 2021

Your brain is the world’s most proficient accountant. Here’s how.

Right now, as you read this, your brain is interpreting waves of light, chemicals in the air, and the squiggles on this page, turning them into sights and smells and words. But all of this is in service of your brain’s most vital function: keeping you alive. “Your brain is constantly running a budget for your body,” says Lisa Feldman Barrett, university distinguished professor of psychology.

by Molly Callahan December 1, 2020

Students socialize from a safe distance on Northeastern’s Boston campus. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

How to talk to others about healthy habits like face masks and distancing

Be civil. Keep your cool. Let others know what you’re comfortable with, and set expectations. These are keys to navigating interpersonal relationships in the COVID-19 era, says William Sharp, associate teaching professor of psychology.

by Brilee Weaver and Peter Ramjug August 6, 2020

Illustration by Gregory Grinnell/Northeastern University

How to win friends (and keep them at a safe distance)

In the age of COVID-19, some people may have difficulty asking others to keep their distance. That feeling stems from fears of tension with others and a misunderstanding of emotions, says William Sharp, an assistant professor of psychology at Northeastern. But all it takes is a little practice.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa June 10, 2020

COVID-19 misconceptions are hard to fight. Cognitive psychology might help.

When it comes to learning about the coronavirus, “common sense” can lead to crucial misconceptions. John Coley, an associate professor of psychology, is studying those misconceptions in children to help fight misinformation about COVID-19.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa June 3, 2020

The person walking past you isn’t wearing a mask. What should you say?

It’s best to avoid hostility and communicate with empathy when it comes to helping people understand why covering their faces can slow the spread of the virus, say Northeastern researchers.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa May 15, 2020

Researchers at Northeastern are studying rat brains to understand how trauma in infancy makes children, but especially girls, more likely to develop anxiety and other similar disorders later in life. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Childhood trauma changes your brain. But it doesn’t have to be permanent.

Neuroscientists at Northeastern are using rats to understand how trauma in infancy makes children, but especially girls, more likely to develop anxiety and other similar disorders later in life.

by Laura Castañón February 20, 2020

Psyche Loui, an assistant professor of creativity and creative practice in the College of Arts, Media and Design at Northeastern. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

‘Sometimes it’s delightful when we’re wrong’

When we listen to music, our brain predicts the notes before we hear them. We like it when we guess correctly. But sometimes we can afford to be wrong, and sometimes we actually like it.

by Emily Arntsen January 16, 2020

We know what we know (even when we don’t want to)

Northeastern psychology professor Iris Berent studies how we’re equipped from birth to acquire language, a concept that elicits skepticism in laypeople and scientists alike. Berent’s new work reveals that this skepticism is due to a bias against the concept of innate knowledge—a bias that itself might be innate.

by Aria Bracci October 17, 2019

New research shows that angry customers stick to their goals, which “can actually lead them to make better decisions, easier decisions, and more satisfying decisions,” says Alexander DePaoli, an associate teaching professor of marketing at Northeastern who co-authored the research.

Buy angry. Be happy.

New research shows that anger makes customers stick to their goals—and that “can actually lead them to make better decisions, easier decisions, and more satisfying decisions,” says Alexander DePaoli, an associate teaching professor of marketing at Northeastern who co-authored the research.

by Aria Bracci August 15, 2019