Mind & Brain Archives - Page 2 of 17

Psychotherapy sessions are best in the morning when levels of helpful hormone are high

Patients make more progress toward overcoming anxiety, fears and phobias when their therapy sessions are scheduled in the morning, new research suggests. An SMU study found that morning sessions helped psychotherapy patients overcome their panic and anxiety and phobic avoidance better, in part, because levels of cortisol — a naturally occurring hormone — are at their highest then, said clinical psychologist Alicia E. Meuret.

Margaret Allen 2017-04-06T11:23:33+00:00 October 3, 2016|Categories: Health & Medicine, Learning & Education, Mind & Brain|Tags: Alicia E. Meuret, David Rosenfield, Dedman College, Lavanya Bhaskara, SMU Department of Psychology, Thomas Ritz|

The Guardian: How fast can we go? The science of the 100m sprint

Journalist Simon Usborne tapped the human-speed expertise of SMU biomechanics expert Peter Weyand for an article in the London newspaper The Guardian examining the potential for humans to continue improving strength and speed beyond what has already been achieved. Usborne interviewed Weyand for his expertise on the mechanics of running and speed of world-class sprinters like Usain Bolt. The article "How fast can we go? The science of the 100m sprint" published Oct. 3, 2016.

Margaret Allen 2016-10-17T16:56:20+00:00 October 3, 2016|Categories: Health & Medicine, Mind & Brain, Researcher news, SMU In The News|Tags: Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development, Peter Weyand|

Researchers test blood flow in athletes’ brains to find markers that diagnose concussions

A hard hit to the head typically prompts physicians to look for signs of a concussion based on symptoms such as forgetfulness, wobbly gait and disorientation. But symptoms such as those are subjective, says physiologist Sushmita Purkayastha, Southern Methodist University, Dallas. Now a new study aims to find noninvasive objective indicators to diagnose whether an athlete has suffered a concussion.

Margaret Allen 2016-10-17T16:56:20+00:00 September 6, 2016|Categories: Feature, Health & Medicine, Mind & Brain, Researcher news, Videos|Tags: Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development, Featurette, Sushmita Purkayastha, Video Feature|

Students grasp abstract math concepts after they demonstrate them with arm motions

Now researchers at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a model using geometry proofs that shows potential for wide adoption — a video game in which students make movements with their arms to learn abstract math concepts.

Margaret Allen 2017-03-15T15:13:52+00:00 July 11, 2016|Categories: Culture, Society & Family, Learning & Education, Mind & Brain, Technology|Tags: Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development, Candace Walkington, Featurette|

New York Daily News: Shocking viral video of 5-year-old boy being paddled

The New York Daily News quoted SMU Psychology Professor George W. Holden, psychology, for his expertise on spanking in an article about a Georgia principal paddling a 5-year-old boy as punishment. The paddling was caught on video and went viral on the Internet by viewers who were horrified and shocked. The article, "Shocking viral video of 5-year-old boy being paddled shines light on legal but 'damaging' corporal punishment," published April 15, 2016.

Margaret Allen 2016-10-17T16:56:42+00:00 April 22, 2016|Categories: Learning & Education, Mind & Brain, Researcher news, SMU In The News|Tags: Dedman College, George W. Holden, SMU Department of Psychology|

SMU Research Day 2016: Students present their research to the SMU and Dallas community

SMU graduate and undergraduate students presented their research to the SMU community at the University's Research Day 2016 on Feb. 10. Sponsored by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, the research spanned more than 20 different fields from schools across campus.

Margaret Allen 2016-11-30T10:44:28+00:00 February 18, 2016|Categories: Culture, Society & Family, Earth & Climate, Economics & Statistics, Energy & Matter, Events, Fossils & Ruins, Health & Medicine, Learning & Education, Mind & Brain, Plants & Animals, Researcher news, Student researchers, Videos|Tags: Alexander R. Lippert, Ernest Jouriles, George W. Holden, James E. Quick, Renee McDonald, Sevinc Sengor, Xin-Lin Gao|

SMU 2015 research efforts broadly noted in a variety of ways for world-changing impact

SMU scientists and their research have a global reach that is frequently noted, beyond peer publications and media mentions. It was a good year for SMU faculty and student research efforts. Here's a small sampling of public and published acknowledgements during 2015, ranging from research modeling that made the cover of a scientific journal to research findings presented as evidence at government hearings.

Margaret Allen 2017-07-25T11:48:07+00:00 January 8, 2016|Categories: Culture, Society & Family, Earth & Climate, Economics & Statistics, Energy & Matter, Events, Fossils & Ruins, Health & Medicine, Learning & Education, Mind & Brain, Plants & Animals, Researcher news, Student researchers|Tags: Alan Humason, Alisa J. WInkler, Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Anthony Fiorillo, Beatrice Magnani, Bonnie F. Jacobs, Brian W. Stump, Chris Hayward, Christopher Strganac, Dale A. Winkler, Dani Setlawan, David Meltzer, Dedman College, Diana Vineyard, Diego Román, Dieter Creme, Elfi Kraka, Ernest Jouriles, Fredrick Olness, Gary Johnson, Heather R. DeShon, Jodi Cooley, John F. Graf, John Wise, Kate Andrzejewski, Kurt Ferguson, Lauren Michael, Lorelei Simpson Rowe, Louis L. Jacobs, Marek Freindorf, Matthew Clemens, Matthew J. Hornbach, Michael J. Polcyn, Neil Tabor, Pavel Nadolsky, Pia Vogel, Randy Scalise, Renee McDonald, Robert Gregory, Robert Kalescky, Robert Kehoe, Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Santanu Roy, Simon Dalley, SMU Department of Anthropology, SMU Department of Biological Sciences, SMU Department of Chemistry, SMU Department of Economics, SMU Department of Physics, SMU Department of Psychology, Stephen J. Sekula, Thomas Sexton, Timothy S. Myers, Vytor Oliveira, Wenli Zou|

$2 million NIH grant to help team from SMU and U-Maryland develop pediatric asthma monitor

Two SMU psychology professors working with University of Maryland engineers have been awarded a National Institutes of Health grant that will bring nearly $2 million to their joint project to create a wearable device for pediatric asthma patients that helps them avoid asthma triggers. The asthma device will monitor air quality, carbon dioxide levels in the blood, physical activity and other stimuli to identify triggers and alert a patient when conditions are ripe for an attack.

Margaret Allen 2016-10-17T16:57:00+00:00 November 3, 2015|Categories: Health & Medicine, Mind & Brain, Researcher news|Tags: Alicia E. Meuret, Dedman College, SMU Department of Psychology, Thomas Ritz|

At peak fertility, women who desire to maintain body attractiveness report they eat less

Biology isn’t the only reason women eat less as they near ovulation, a time when they are at their peak fertility. Three new independent studies found that another part of the equation is a woman’s desire to maintain her body’s attractiveness, says social psychologist and assistant professor Andrea L. Meltzer, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

Margaret Allen 2016-10-17T16:57:17+00:00 June 1, 2015|Categories: Culture, Society & Family, Health & Medicine, Mind & Brain|Tags: Andrea L. Meltzer, Dedman College, SMU Department of Psychology|