60-Second Mind
338 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 9 years ago - ★★★★ - 215 ratingsTune in every Saturday for quick commentary on the latest news in behavior and brain research—it'll just take a minute
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Episodes
Social Status Affects Who We Choose to Believe
July 28, 2013 00:00 - 3 minutesWhen it comes to news or political statements, the more powerful the speaker the more we are likely to believe them. Christie Nicholson reports
Happiness During Teen Years Predicts Happiness as Adults
July 22, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA survey of thousands finds that our mood during the young adult years is a good predictor of later happiness in retirement. Christie Nicholson reports
What Fighting Couples Want
July 15, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesFighting couples don't want an apology, but rather for one partner to relinquish power. Christie Nicholson reports
Expansive Postures May Lead Us to Dishonesty
July 09, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA study finds that large, expansive body postures may influence people's honesty. Christie Nicholson reports
Training Can Increase Empathy
June 24, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA particular type of meditation training led study subjects to become more altruistic. Christie Nicholson reports
Memory Loss during Menopause
June 12, 2013 14:00 - 2 minutesMany women complained about memory loss during menopause, but a recent study provides the evidence. Christie Nicholson reports
The Quirk of a High IQ
June 06, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesIt seems that those with high IQs have a beneficial quirk in their ability to perceive a moving scene. Christie Nicholson
How to Enjoy Your Decision
May 22, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesWhen facing a lot of choice, it is best to decide on one option and then physically shut off all others. Christie Nicholson reports
Inside the Mind of a Psychopath
May 14, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesThe brains of psychopaths react differently to images of someone being hurt than the brains of non-psychopaths. Christie Nicholson reports
Money Is Valued Differently Depending on How It's Earned
May 08, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesWe tend to diminish the value of money earned through questionable means. Christie Nicholson reports
Green Spaces Promote Happier Communities
April 29, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA long-term survey of more than 10,000 people finds that green spaces make for better moods. Christie Nicholson reports
Memory Improves with Sleep
April 15, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesSleep plays a crucial role in better memory. Christie Nicholson reports
Being Monkey in the Middle Is Stressful
April 10, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study of macaque monkeys finds that those who are of middle status tend to experience the most stress. Christie Nicholson reports
Unhealthy Eating Leaves You in a Bad Mood
April 02, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesIf you are in a bad mood don't try to comfort yourself with unhealthy food. Christie Nicholson reports
Mindfulness May Improve Test Scores
March 28, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study finds that a meditation practice improved Graduate Record Exam scores. Christie Nicholson reports
We Think the Future Is Closer Than the Past
March 22, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study finds that we might think of time as though we are literally moving through it. Christie Nicholson reports
Sexting Habits of Teens
March 07, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study takes a closer look at the sexting habits of one particular subgroup within teens. Christie Nicholson reports
Studying Languages Can Grow the Brain
February 28, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesResearchers have found that people who study languages tend to show significant growth in certain areas of the brain. Christie Nicholson reports
Three-Year-Olds Know Better
February 18, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA study finds that three-year-old children know a lot more than we might give them credit for. Christie Nicholson reports
You May Think Your Name Is Rare
February 11, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesWe tend to overestimate how rare our names are, perhaps in an effort to preserve a sense of being special. Christie Nicholson reports
We Are What We Smell
February 03, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study finds that we can instill our emotions in others through chemical signals delivered by scent. Christie Nicholson reports
Coffee Boosts Recognition of Positive Words
January 30, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study finds that we tend to recognize words associated with positive thoughts faster after we've had some coffee. Christie Nicholson reports
Diapers Hinder Walking for Babies
January 23, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA new study finds that diapers, both disposable and cloth, impede walking for babies. Christie Nicholson reports
Images of Thin Bodies Impact Body Preferences
January 15, 2013 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study shows that images of thin women do in fact alter women's body preferences. Christie Nicholson reports
Dexter Talks Psychopath Stress Management
January 08, 2013 11:10 - 2 minutesMichael C. Hall, of TV's Dexter, talks about psychopathy with psychologist Kevin Dutton, author of The Wisdom of Psychopaths
Dan Ariely Talks Creativity and Dishonesty
December 29, 2012 21:34 - 2 minutesDan Ariely is a professor of behavior economics at Duke University. His latest book, The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty, explains how creativity makes us better liars--even to ourselves
Natural Setting and Tech Break Boost Creativity
December 22, 2012 07:00 - 2 minutesVolunteers who spent at least four days hiking with no communications or computing technology scored higher on creativity tests upon their return than did a control group. Rose Eveleth reports
Civilian Trauma May Contribute to Combat PTSD
December 08, 2012 15:30 - 2 minutesVeterans with post-traumatic stress disorder were more likely to have experienced violence or abuse in civilian life, especially during childhood. Karen Hopkin reports
Bad Boys and Gals Present as More Attractive
December 02, 2012 07:00 - 2 minutesPeople who score higher on negative personality traits know how to look hotter when they try harder than do those with more stable characters. Christie Nicholson reports
When Old Habits Die Easy
November 25, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesNew research finds a way to break an embedded habit, even a bad habit, at least for mice. Christie Nicholson reports
Rats' Whiskers Inspire New Way to See
November 14, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesBlindfolded subjects were able to successfully use a plastic version of a rat's whisker to help them detect objects. Christie Nicholson reports
Stable or Sexy? It Depends on Ovulation
November 06, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesA women who settles down with what she considers to be a stable man might not find him all that attractive while she is ovulating. Christie Nicholson reports
Cash Rewards Might Make Us Unhappy
October 29, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study finds that when we can easily quantify a good we tend to be less happy with it, as opposed to those goods that are less easily quantifiable. Christie Nicholson reports
How We Process Horrible Sounds
October 26, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesResearchers develop a model for how we find certain sounds, like nails on a chalkboard, unbearable. Christie Nicholson reports
Helping Your Child Delay Gratification
October 15, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent twist on the famous "marshmallow test" for children finds that environment and experience play a big role in a child's ability to resist temptation. Christie Nicholson reports
When We Hear a Sound
October 01, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesWe tend to notice sounds that appear much more often and accurately than sounds that vanish. Christie Nicholson reports
The Difference between Honesty and Cheating
September 23, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study finds that where we sign a document can influence our tendency to be honest or cheat. Christie Nicholson reports
When the Bride Has Doubt
September 16, 2012 16:00 - 2 minutesNew research finds that prenuptial doubt predicts marital separation, especially when that doubt comes from the bride. Christie Nicholson reports
Fear Makes Art More Engaging
September 12, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study finds that when people are stimulated by fear, they tend to be more engaged with art. Christie Nicholson reports
Improving Eyewitness Accuracy in Police Lineups
September 02, 2012 11:00 - 2 minutesMaking decisions faster may improve the accuracy of choosing the guilty person from a police lineup. Christie Nicholson reports
Why You Choose the Brands You Do
August 26, 2012 15:00 - 2 minutesA recent study finds that we might often choose brands and products for reasons that have nothing to do with the actual brand or product. Christie Nicholson reports
Attitudes toward Sex Are Changing
August 19, 2012 00:00 - 3 minutesA new survey of college students finds that attitudes toward gender and promiscuity are changing. Christie Nicholson reports
Hoarders Have Their Own Category of Disorder
August 13, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent study finds evidence for why hoarders might be considered separate from those suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Christie Nicholson reports
Wobbly Chairs May Affect Your Values
August 04, 2012 09:00 - 2 minutesA study finds that unstable furniture can influence how we feel about our relationships. Christie Nicholson reports
Some Multitasking Is More Taxing
July 28, 2012 09:00 - 2 minutesRecent research finds that different forms of multitasking can impact our performance much more than others. Christie Nicholson reports
Attraction between Friends of Opposite Sexes
July 22, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesA recent survey finds considerable differences in how men and women view attraction between male and female friends
Our Friends' Weight Influences Our Weight Gain and Loss
July 15, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesResearch finds that who we socialize with can influence our eating behavior. Christie Nicholson reports
Lingering with a Decision Breeds More Indecision
July 08, 2012 00:00 - 3 minutesResearchers have found that time spent deliberating on a decision actually exacerbates the difficulty in making that decision. Christie Nicholson reports
Do We Care About Future Generations?
July 02, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesNew research finds that we tend to care more about the success of future generations when we are faced with our own mortality. Christie Nicholson reports
Confusion Helps Us Learn
June 25, 2012 00:00 - 2 minutesIt may be a good thing to be confused during the learning process. Christie Nicholson reports