SBU Research into the Effect of Prolonged Space Travel

By Shannon Bohman Image acquired from: commons.wikipedia.org Figure 1 This picture shows an artist’s rendition of space from a spacecraft. Researchers in Stony Brook’s Department of Psychiatry received two grants from NASA and are currently investigating the effect of long-term space travel on astronauts. The first grant is a three-year project investigating new ways to provide proper psychotherapy to astronauts. Extended voyages into space can cause … Continue reading SBU Research into the Effect of Prolonged Space Travel

New Study Helps Define “Stupidity”

By Lee Ann Santore The word stupid is used daily to describe a wide variety of actions. However, it is unclear of what constitutes something as stupid. A team of psychologists led by Balazs Aczel, from the Institute of Psychology at Eotvos Lorand University, completed a study to obtain a better understanding of the behavior patterns humans regard as “stupid.” Aczel’s team compiled a collection … Continue reading New Study Helps Define “Stupidity”

Video Games as a Source for Neural Therapy

By Tasfinul Haque Introduction Invented in 1947, the Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device allowed people to use an oscilloscope to shoot “missiles” at targets on overlaid transparencies. Since then, video games have become a multi-billion dollar industry, with game developers pushing the limits of graphic technology to create hyperrealistic visuals with engaging plots. The meteoric rise in popularity of video games since the late 1970s … Continue reading Video Games as a Source for Neural Therapy

Scientists Pinpointed the Part of the Brain that Generates the “Ghostly Presence”

By Marianna Catege Even as the world becomes more and more science-based, ghost stories are still told and believed by some. Today, researchers are finally using science to tackle the unexplained phenomenon of the feeling of a ghostly presence. Dr. Giulio Rognini, of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), explains that this vivid sensation is common in people who experience extreme weather conditions, such … Continue reading Scientists Pinpointed the Part of the Brain that Generates the “Ghostly Presence”

Gender Identity in Transgender Children

By Amanda Ng Through the last century or so, an emphasis on social equality has brought the plights of many minority groups to light.  In the past, members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community have suffered from severe emotional distress because of the discrimination they face, and many still worry about gaining and keeping the acceptance of their peers and families.  Though they … Continue reading Gender Identity in Transgender Children

Infectious Diseases may Cause Major Depressive Disorder

By: Marianna Catege Depression may actually be infectious, according to Dr. Turhan Canli, the Associate Professor of Psychology and Radiology at Stony Brook University. His claim puts Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in a new light, one that suggests it can be caused by parasitc bacterial or viral infections. In this highly prevalent disease, with roughly 7 percent of the U.S. population developing MDD, symptoms can … Continue reading Infectious Diseases may Cause Major Depressive Disorder

Sleep duration is related to poor diet in teens

By Katherine Maiorisi A study conducted by Dr. Hale at Stony Brook University has developed data that shows a direct link between sleep deprivation and obesity in teens. This study, which was supported by the “National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney diseases”, was done on a sample of 13,284 teenagers [1]. Dr. Hale specified that this study group of teens were asked questions … Continue reading Sleep duration is related to poor diet in teens