Psychology

Mapping surprise in the human mind, with help from AI

By comparing brain scans and AI predictions, a UChicago psychology student is researching how we process unexpected events

How to build a better memory palace

In new UChicago study, researchers used Minecraft to test whether positive or negative emotion makes the recall method more effective

Emotional memories stick when the brain works ‘in harmony,’ study finds

A team of UChicago psychology researchers used fMRI scans to learn why certain moments carry such lasting power

Listen to grandma—life’s not a zero-sum game

In new study, UChicago psychologists found that older people see the world as less win-lose than younger people

Origins of the ‘Ostrich Effect’

In recent study, UChicago researchers pinpoint the age we start avoiding information—even when it’s helpful

False Memories, explained

Does the Monopoly Man have a monocle? The answer may be a false memory. At UChicago, scientists are studying this phenomenon, known as the Mandela effect, and how false memories form.

Physical gestures can counteract stereotypes introduced by subtle linguistic cues

New UChicago research finds that children who saw an ‘equal’ gesture were more likely to express egalitarian beliefs