News and Research

What Do Babies Think?

Alison Gopnik discusses her work in an interview on the TED Radio Hour on NPR. Professor Gopnik's research is also featured in a New York Times article on children and play .Read more »

Emoticons get more emotional, thanks to Berkeley psychologists

Emoticons not expressing the full complexity of your feelings? UC Berkeley psychologist Dacher Keltner and his team at the campus’s Greater Good Science Center can help. They have assisted in creating a nuanced Facebook sticker package based on a character “Finch,” a nod to scientist Charles Darwin’s collection of Galapagos finches. Inspired by Darwin’s book, “The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals,” and designed by Pixar story artist Matt Jones, the new package of 16 emoticons shows surprise, sympathy, anger and sadness, among other sentiments. “We were inspired to enrich the iconic language with which we communicate at Facebook... Read more »

The Association for Psychological Science Award for Lifetime Achievement

Congratulations Bob! Professor Robert Levenson will receive the first APS Mentor Award. The APS Mentor Award is a new lifetime achievement award to recognize psychology researchers and educators who have shaped the future directions of science by fostering the careers of students and colleagues. A mentor can be many things: That professor or advisor who made a special effort, transforming our career paths; that inspirational researcher who influenced a larger group of scientists through broader efforts, such as leading an organization or laboratory, or through lecturing and conducting seminars and workshops. There may be other models as well, including for... Read more »

Psychocinematics: Exploring Cognition at the Movies

Largely through trial and error, filmmakers have developed engaging techniques that capture our sensations, thoughts, and feelings. Philosophers and film theorists have thought deeply about the nature and impact of these techniques, yet few scientists have delved into empirical analyses of our movie experience-or what Arthur P. Shimamura has coined "psychocinematics." This edited volume introduces this exciting field by bringing together film theorists, philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists to consider the viability of a scientific approach to our movie experience. FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013 Your Brain on Movies How do our brains respond to movies? With the advent of functional magnetic... Read more »

Pulling An All-nighter Can Bring On Euphoria and Risky Behavior

A sleepless night can make us cranky and moody. But a lesser known side effect of sleep deprivation is short-term euphoria, which can potentially lead to poor judgment and addictive behavior, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley. Researchers at UC Berkeley and Harvard Medical School studied the brains of healthy young adults and found that their pleasure circuitry got a big boost after a missed night’s sleep. But that same neural pathway that stimulates feelings of euphoria, reward and motivation after a sleepless night may also lead to risky behavior, their study suggests. “When functioning correctly,... Read more »

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Department Highlights

Calendar of Events

Chronic insomnia and hyperarousal - state of the art

May 21 • 10:30:00 • Tolman Hall

Psychology Commencement 2013

May 21 • 14:00:00 • Hearst Greek Theatre

Joint Redwoord/CNEP Seminar: Transforming sensory inputs into motor acts: Insights from looking, reaching and speaking

May 22 • 12:00:00 • 560 Evans Hall

Post-Baccalaureate Program for Counseling and Psychology Professions

May 22 • 18:00:00 • UC Berkeley Extension (Golden Bear Center)

Certificate Program in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Studies

May 29 • 19:00:00 • UC Berkeley Extension (Downtown Center)

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