Science News for Writers

Writers seem to be always on the search for ways to improve their work - regular exercise and writing while standing are but two methods many writers use to sharpen their prose. According to this research, using a blue light also sharpens brain function -  something that any writer can adopt by purchasing bulbs that emit a shorter wave-length blue light similar to natural light. Individuals exposed to blue wavelength  lights experienced faster reaction times Blue light exposure has a lasting effect on brain function A new study found that blue wavelength light exposure led to subsequent increases in brain activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) when participants were engaging in a cognitive task after cessation of light exposure. The results also showed that a short single exposure to blue light for half an hour is sufficient to produce measurable changes in reaction times and more efficient responses (answe

Chivalry is not dead when it comes to morality We're more likely to protect women than we are men We're more likely to sacrifice a man than a woman when it comes to both saving the lives of others and in pursuing our self-interests, a team of psychology researchers has found.  "Our study indicates that we think women's welfare should be preserved over men's," observes Oriel FeldmanHall, a post-doctoral researcher at New York University and the study's lead author. The research, conducted at Cambridge University's Medical Research Council's Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit and Columbia University, appears in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. In one experiment, study subjects read one of three versions of a "Trolley Dilemma" -- a commonly used technique in psychology studies and akin to the "Lifeboat Question" (i.e., if you could save only three of five passengers in a lifeboat, whom would y

www.itsnicethat.com Psychologists have discovered that when two strangers meet and interact  for  the first time, the extent to which they develop mutual understanding  depends  on how much they talk and ask questions rather than on non-verbal  cues such  as gestures or exchanging glances. Over my career I've read several books on or attended seminars about the importance of non-verbal communication as well as how to read a person's body language.  By implication, this knowledge helps control or model a person's own body language to communicate a wanted affect. We each use these skills - most likely without thinking about it - in our own day-to-day relationships and are an important tool for investigators and interviewers - who do think about it. But simply talking, asking and answering questions and listening is also very important.  According to this research, more important than reading or projecting body-language. So here's a report on the resea