Category Archives: Sensation & Perception

Memory distortions: Not just for long-term memories

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Audrey Lustig

Consider the following list of words: Spring Egg Basket Jellybean April Hunt Ham Sunday Chocolate Peeps Bonnet If you had to memorize this list for a test, you’d actually do a pretty good job.  Why?  Well, you wouldn’t have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cognitive Psychology, Sensation & Perception | 1 Comment

Basketball: It’s A Pretty ‘Touchy’ Subject.

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Melanie Tannenbaum

Some basketball players really like touching their teammates. Of course, when I say ‘touch,’ I mean gestures like high fives and half hugs. No matter how macho they may seem, basketball players touch their teammates in all sorts of ways … Continue reading →

Posted in Sensation & Perception, Social Psychology | 2 Comments

Horizontal Stripes: Friend or Foe?

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Audrey Lustig

For years, the fashion world has told us that vertical stripes make the body look slimmer because they draw the eyes up and down.  Horizontal stripes supposedly do the exact opposite, drawing attention to the widest parts of the body … Continue reading →

Posted in Sensation & Perception, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Elements of style: How science informs fashion design

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Audrey Lustig

How do people judge fashion design?  Fashion experts are notorious for using vague criteria, saying things like “I know it when I see it.”  This kind of response implies that good design can’t be analyzed objectively.  In a recent interview, … Continue reading →

Posted in Sensation & Perception | 18 Comments

Looking for love this Valentine’s Day? Try wearing red.

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Audrey Lustig

This time of year, both fans of Valentine’s Day and V-day haters are bound to have a few things on the brain.   One major association we have with the holiday is love and attraction.  Another big one is the color … Continue reading →

Posted in Sensation & Perception, Social Psychology | 7 Comments

Don’t take the long road home

Posted on January 31, 2011 by PsychBusyBee

Do you take the fastest way home? Are you sure? Really?

I think I take the fastest route to work. I avoid traffic and stoplights, take long straight sections, and make right turns when ever possible. However, I always end up taking a completely different path home. I can’t quite say why I do this, but both seem the quickest possible way to and from work. If one route wins the morning commute, why don’t I follow the same path in reverse every evening? Continue reading →

Posted in Cognitive Neuroscience, Sensation & Perception | 10 Comments

Stress improves perception, but at a cost

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Audrey Lustig

We all have a sense that stress affects the way we see and evaluate our surroundings—but does it help or hurt us?  In the literature on how stress affects perception, there are some conflicting reports.  On the one hand, stress … Continue reading →

Posted in Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Sensation & Perception | 1 Comment