Psychology

Human beings create impressions almost instantly from strangers; in a similar way it happens with the world of internet and, in this specific case, of the social network Facebook. Thanks to a recent study, we now know that the more popular you are on the social network, the more attractive they see you, producing a very clear cause-effect relationship. The results will be published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication.

Losing a loved one is one of the most heartbreaking things that can happen to us in life but, due to a recent study by Saint George's University in London (UK), its symbolism may not be such. The chances of having a stroke or heart attack after the death of a loved one double in the first 30 days after the fatal event. This is the conclusion of the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Our brain needs to rest to perform better every day. But what if you could fool your brain by "telling" it that you slept very well and rested even though you did not? Well, your brain will work better. How has this conclusion been reached? Thanks to the experiment carried out by researchers at the University of Colorado and whose results have been published by the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition.

It has always been said that women are more intuitive than men. But does female intuition really exist? A study, carried out by researchers from the universities of Granada, Pompeu Fabra of Barcelona and Middlesex University of London and which has been published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, raises us doubts.

Theories abound that see a 'black hand' behind hugely impactful events like 9/11 or the arrival of man on the Moon. And they all have common ingredients to grab the public's attention.

There are already studies on the implication of night light in our mood. Now, the universities of Toronto Scarborough (Canada) and Northwestern (Illinois, USA), have carried out a total of six studies with the same final conclusion: the light in a room influences our decision making.

Although quitting smoking implies an improvement in our general health and a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and in the development of cancer, now, a new joint study from the universities of Oxford, Birmingham and Kings College London, has shown that the effects of quitting smoking are also felt on mental health.

Diagnosing depression, that silent disorder that combines unhappiness, reluctance and guilt, is not easy, since none of the symptoms guarantees an accurate diagnosis on its own. If we take into account that one in six people will suffer from it at some stage in their life, prevention becomes an imperative, especially in the youngest.