Psychology

Australian psychologists at the University of New South Wales have shown that gray, rainy days with unpleasant weather are good for the brain and memory, and improve the ability to remember. On the contrary, on sunny days our memory works worse.

When we "immerse ourselves" in the world of a fictional character while reading a story, we can change our thinking, our emotions and even our way of thinking to resemble the character, as a study by the University of Ohio (USA) has just shown. ) published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Placing the photo of our children or nephews smiling on the refrigerator door can help us eat healthier, according to a study published in the 'Journal of Consumer Research'. Specifically, scientists have shown that seeing a smiling face not only improves mood, but makes us feel good enough to work harder for future well-being.

A person's religious beliefs weaken after solving an analytical problem, a study published in the journal Science has revealed. The authors say the results offer clues about the brain mechanisms that govern religious beliefs.

Slopes seem less steep next to a friend. British and American researchers reached this conclusion after a study with subjects who were invited to climb a hill alone or with someone. It is also best to give yourself an injection or treat a wound in the presence of a friend.

Two new Australian research shows that looking optimistically into the future helps to achieve happiness. Paul Frijters, author of one of the studies, worked with a sample of 10,000 Australians for nine years to conclude that people feel better if they hope that positive things will happen in the long term. "People tend to think that the future will bring us a pleasant surprise," says the scientist, who published his results in the Journal of Economic Psychology.

Although many studies have shown the negative effects that stress, anxiety or depression have on cardiovascular health, little is known about what happens in the opposite case. Now, a study carried out by the Harvard Public School of Health (USA) reveals that optimistic people have healthier hearts.

That your neighbor is friendly or that he barely manages to answer you with a grunt when you pass him in the elevator may have a genetic condition. Researchers at the University of Buffalo and the University of California, in the United States, have identified variants of the receptors of two hormones that push certain people to be charming and generous, while others conform selfishly.