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Whether we’re listening to Bach or the blues, our brains are wired to make music-color connections depending on how the melodies make us feel, according to new research from UC Berkeley. For instance, Mozart’s jaunty Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major is most often associated with bright yellow and orange, whereas his dour Requiem in D minor is more likely to be linked to dark, bluish gray.
Tag: psychology
Upper class more likely to be scofflaws due to greed, study finds
February 27, 2012:
The upper class has a higher propensity for cheating, driving illegally and endorsing unethical behavior in the workplace, believing – as did Gordon Gekko in the movie “Wall Street” – that “greed is good,” according to a new UC Berkeley study.
‘Greater Good’ Valentine’s tips for emotionally intelligent guys
February 14, 2012:
Looking for Valentine’s Day inspiration? Jeremy Adam Smith, Web editor and relationships pundit at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, draws on scientific studies to showcase some unlikely romantic heroes: Zebras, astronauts and a mindfulness teacher.
Gossip isn’t all bad — new study finds its social and psychological benefits
January 17, 2012:
For centuries, gossip has been dismissed as salacious, idle chatter that can damage reputations and erode trust. But a new study suggests rumor-mongering can have positive outcomes such as helping us police bad behavior, prevent exploitation and lower stress. Listen to UC Berkeley social psychologist Robb Willer discuss the virtues of gossip on KQED Forum.
New video of how scientists reconstruct the movies in our minds
December 21, 2011:
UC Berkeley scientists Jack Gallant and Shinji Nishimoto have wowed the world by using brain scans and computer modeling to reconstruct images of what we see when we’re watching movies. UC Berkeley broadcast manager Roxanne Makasdjian has produced a video of how they achieved this breakthrough, and where they’re headed.
How grateful are you? Take this quiz and find out
November 23, 2011:
Research from UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center shows that gratitude is key to happiness. How grateful are you? Take this quiz and find out if you’re counting your blessings this Thanksgiving
Dream sleep takes sting out of painful memories
November 23, 2011:
They say time heals all wounds, and new research from UC Berkeley indicates that time spent in dream sleep can help. UC Berkeley researchers have found that during the dream phase of sleep, also known as REM sleep, our stress chemistry shuts down and the brain processes emotional experiences and takes the painful edge off difficult memories.
‘Happiness expert’ Christine Carter shares favorite gratitude practices
November 22, 2011:
UC Berkeley sociologist Christine Carter believes gratitude is the key to personal and community happiness. This Thanksgiving, she offers her three favorite gratitude exercises that she practices with her kids so they can focus on what they have instead of what they’re missing.
Is a stranger genetically wired to be trustworthy? You’ll know in 20 seconds
November 14, 2011:
There’s definitely something to be said for first impressions. New research from UC Berkeley suggests it can take just 20 seconds to detect whether a stranger is genetically inclined to being trustworthy, kind or compassionate. See if you can guess which people shown in the video have the empathy gene.
Findings offer new clues into the addicted brain
October 30, 2011:
What drives addicts to choose drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, overeating or kleptomania — despite the risks? Campus neuroscientists have pinpointed the locations in the brain where calculations are made that can result in addictive and compulsive behavior. Their astonishing findings could lead to improved treatments for many addictions and disorders.
Easily embarrassed? Study finds people will trust you more
September 28, 2011:
If tripping in public or mistaking an overweight woman for a mother-to-be leaves you red-faced, don’t feel bad. A new UC Berkeley study suggests that people who are easily embarrassed are also more trustworthy, and more generous.
In short, embarrassment can be a good thing.
Not enough sleep gets in the way of success
September 23, 2011:
Catching z’s can seem overrated when school is demanding, your body is young, and you’re newly on your own. Students, researchers, and health care providers grapple with the whys and hows of sleep.
Sept. 10 colloquium to examine roles of history, culture in teaching and learning foreign languages
August 30, 2011:
Organizers say that since the attacks of 9/11 – despite increased awareness of the importance of history and culture in language instruction – some topics remain off-limits in the classroom.
Forum on breaking the cycle of violence to draw experts, producer of “The Interrupters” documentary film
August 22, 2011:
New ways to prevent or reduce community violence will be the topic of a Tuesday, Sept. 6 public forum with University of California, Berkeley, experts in education, public health and social welfare joining local leaders and the producer of a critically acclaimed documentary about breaking the cycle of violence.
Father’s Day, Mother’s Day. How about Co-Parents Day?
June 17, 2011:
Fathers stumbling through child-rearing are a familiar sitcom theme. But a growing body of research at Berkeley is challenging the perception that dads are goofy, uncaring or incompetent caregivers. On the contrary, preliminary findings suggest their co-parenting skills are crucial to their kids’ social and academic success.
Immigrants often eat high-calorie American junk food to fit in
May 3, 2011:
A new study by researchers at UC Berkeley and the University of Washington suggests immigrants and their children often gain weight because they eat junk food to fit in with American culture. The findings will be published in the June issue of Psychological Science.
Campus diversity efforts explore stigma, prejudice and ‘white guilt’
April 28, 2011:
Diversity initiatives in the workplace and on college campuses are frequently perceived to benefit minorities over whites, according to a new study. But at UC Berkeley, some faculty members are creating forums that encourage students to share their most uncomfortable experiences of stigma and prejudice, including how it feels to be privileged and/or white.
As we sleep, speedy brain waves boost our ability to learn
March 8, 2011:
Scientists have long puzzled over the many hours we spend in light, dreamless slumber. But a new study from UC Berkeley suggests we’re busy recharging our brain’s learning capacity during this traditionally undervalued phase of sleep, which can take up half the night.
Meditation beats dance for harmonizing body and mind
February 23, 2011:
The body is a dancer’s instrument, but is it attuned to the mind? A new study from UC Berkeley suggests that professional ballet and modern dancers are not as emotionally in sync with their bodies as are people who regularly practice Vipassana or mindfulness meditation.
What’s your emotional intelligence?
February 22, 2011:
How’s your emotional intelligence? Find out by taking a short quiz issued by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. Look at 20 facial expressions and guess what emotion is being conveyed. The test draws on extensive research conducted by UC Berkeley psychologist Dacher Keltner and UCSF psychologist Paul Ekman.
In online dating, blacks more open to romancing whites than vice versa
February 11, 2011:
Has Valentine’s Day become post-racial? Not yet, it seems. New research from UC Berkeley suggests that when it comes to dating, cyberspace is as segregated as the real world. Data gathered from more than 1 million profiles of singles looking for love online show that whites overwhelmingly prefer to date members of their own race, while blacks, especially men, are far more likely to cross the race barrier in hopes of being struck by Cupid’s arrow. (With video)
Geoffrey Keppel, scholar of human memory, dies at 75
January 10, 2011:
Geoffrey Keppel, a professor emeritus of psychology at UC Berkeley whose research expanded our understanding of what causes humans to forget, died Dec. 31, 2010, after a long struggle with chronic lymphatic leukemia. He was 75.
Emotional intelligence peaks as we enter our 60s, research suggests
December 16, 2010:
Older people have a hard time keeping a lid on their feelings, especially when viewing heartbreaking or disgusting scenes in movies and reality shows, psychologists have found. But they’re better than their younger counterparts at seeing the positive side of a stressful situation and empathizing with the less fortunate, according to research from UC Berkeley.
Jet lagged and forgetful? It’s no coincidence
November 24, 2010:
Holiday travel can leave people cranky and tired, in part because of jet lag, the result of your body’s internal clock being out of synch with your current time zone. For chronic travelers, it’s more than a passing annoyance, however. A new study shows that chronic jet lag can cause long-term brain changes that lead to memory and learning problems for at least a month after return to a normal schedule
UC Berkeley psychologists bring science of happiness to China
July 15, 2010:
As the ranks of China’s millionaires continue to grow, the pursuit of wealth in the nation is fast outpacing mental health and wellbeing, according to psychologists at the University of California, Berkeley, who are seeking to correct that imbalance and spread the science of happiness in China.
