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Michele W. Berger
Senior Science News Officer
mwberger@upenn.edu
Psychology
Money matters to happiness—perhaps more than previously thought
Money matters to happiness—perhaps more than previously thought
Research from Wharton’s Matthew Killingsworth shows that contrary to previous influential work, there’s no dollar-value plateau at which money’s importance lessens. One potential reason: Higher earners feel an increased sense of control over life.
Self-awareness can drive behavior change, reprogram the brain’s reward system
Self-awareness can drive behavior change, reprogram the brain’s reward system
Most people break New Year’s resolutions within a few weeks. Neuroscientist Vera Ludwig offers six tips to move mindfully through this process, leading to a greater chance for success.
Four strategies to find joy in a very different holiday season
Four strategies to find joy in a very different holiday season
Experts from Penn’s Positive Psychology Center suggest tweaking traditions, acknowledging the situation’s highs and lows, and seeking help from people in your life.
A modified game of ‘chicken’ reveals what happens in the brain during decision-making
A modified game of ‘chicken’ reveals what happens in the brain during decision-making
Research from the Platt Labs found that in rhesus macaques, two regions of the brain mirror those of similar regions in humans, broadening the understanding of what unfolds, neurologically, when people interact and cooperate.
One step closer to a clinical fix for the side effects of monovision
One step closer to a clinical fix for the side effects of monovision
Monovision counters the deterioration of the ability to see up close but also causes dramatic visual distortions. New research confirms that a solution that successfully works with trial lenses—the special lenses used by eye doctors—also succeeds with contact lenses.
A lesson in grit from Angela Duckworth
A lesson in grit from Angela Duckworth
Her new Grit Lab course, part of the Paideia Program, teaches Penn undergrads how to develop more passion and perseverance for long-term goals.
One undergrad researcher powers through the pandemic
One undergrad researcher powers through the pandemic
The unusual circumstances brought on by COVID-19 forced Lana Prieur, a junior in the School of Arts & Sciences, to pivot her approach to research—and sparked new connections in the process.
Crowd-sourcing optogenetics data to tackle neurological diseases
Crowd-sourcing optogenetics data to tackle neurological diseases
The specialized field of neuroscience, optogenetics, shows clinical promise for conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson’s. But before human trials can get fully underway, the field must better understand a crucial intermediate step, aided by 45 labs in nine countries sharing information.
HIV and suicide risk
HIV and suicide risk
While HIV infection can be well-managed with proper care, suicidal thoughts and attempts remain a pressing concern. A recent study looks at what accounts for the elevated risk for suicide among people living with HIV.
Decision-making and anxiety in the time of COVID-19
Decision-making and anxiety in the time of COVID-19
Penn experts discuss the psychology behind decision-making, how anxiety and stress impacts behavior, and share strategies for deciding how to safely reengage with society.
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In the News
Health.com
What is trypanophobia? How to cope with a fear of needles so you can get the COVID-19 vaccine
Thea Gallagher of the Perelman School of Medicine offered tips for overcoming fear of needles in order to get the COVID-19 vaccine, starting with just making the appointment. "More doing and less thinking is an important way to overcome your fear," she said.
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The Washington Post
You’ve seen many images from the Capitol riot. Here’s why it’s okay to take a break
Thea Gallagher of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the effects of exposure to violent media imagery. “You don’t have to be there,” she said. “You can still be traumatized by watching things, hearing about them.”
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NPR
Finding joy this holiday season
Karen Reivich and James Pawelski of the School of Arts & Sciences offered tips for staying happy and resilient over the holidays, in spite of the pandemic.
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Scientific American
Ethics lesson may hold outside the classroom
Nina Strohminger of the Wharton School commented on a study that explored how classroom discussions about ethics and meat consumption affected student meal-purchasing behaviors. “It's an awesome data set,” said Strohminger.
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The Wall Street Journal
Hate waiting in line? New research may help things move faster
Hummy Song of the Wharton School spoke about the merits of a dedicated-queue system in managing line lengths. “We usually think about queues from the customer’s point of view, but there is another human on the other end of that line,” she said. “Encouraging customer ownership by dedicating assignments to each server when planning queue configurations might shorten the wait and service time.”
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Philadelphia Inquirer
How to show compassion for Trump—even if you don’t like him
Charles “Chaz” L. Howard, vice president for social equity and community, and Michael Baime of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about finding empathy for President Trump. “The whole country is feeling more hatred and less kindness. This is a moment where we need to take stock, pause and think about what matters for ourselves and our whole country,” said Baime.
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