Psychology

Vanderbilt psychologists show it is possible to selectively manipulate our ability to learn through the application of a mild electrical current to the brain, and that this effect can be enhanced or depressed depending on the direction of the current. Read More

Harry Potter was the theme of a unique undergraduate psychology class taught by two Vanderbilt professors in Oxford, England over spring break, March 1-9. Read More

A brain-mapping study of patients with schizophrenia has found that areas associated with the ability to imitate are impaired, providing new support for the theory that deficits in this basic cognitive skill may underlie the profound difficulty with social interactions that characterize the disorder. Read More

The original thesis of John Ridley Stroop, who discovered one of the most famous tasks in cognitive psychology while studying for his doctoral degree at Peabody College, was donated to Vanderbilt by his son Fred. Read More

A study has found that the time it takes neural networks in the brain to make decisions is remarkably stable regardless of size: a finding that could make it easier to achieve the goal of the President's BRAIN Initiative established last spring. Read More

Read about faculty and staff awards and achievements in the latest edition of "Kudos." Read More

Members of Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development faculty were named in the 2014 Edu-Scholar Public Presence Rankings, which recognizes university-based academics who are contributing substantially to public debates about K-12 and higher education. Read More

This year’s most popular research stories plumbed mysteries of the brain, examined complex social phenomena, shed light on dark matter, uncovered a surprising link between our three greatest health threats and more. Read More

A new study has found that skilled typists can’t identify the positions of many of the keys on the QWERTY keyboard and that novice typists don’t appear to learn key locations in the first place. Read More

Peabody's Bethany Rittle-Johnson was one of a select group of education professionals invited to participate in the National Governors Association Expert Roundtable for Strengthening Early Mathematics Education. Read More

Jon Kaas is the 2014 recipient of the George A. Miller Prize in Cognitive Neuroscience, which recognizes individuals whose research has had a revolutionary impact on the field. Read More

With the help of computerized eye trackers, new research finds that at least 50 percent of people can see the movement of their own hand even in the absence of all light. Read More

See how a wireless capsule could help during minimally invasive surgeries Why magnesium and vitamin D are a match made in heaven And do you really see the S in the USA network logo? Watch this QuickVU roundup of research stories. [vucastblurb]… Read More

New research by postdoctoral fellow Kaitlin Toner suggests liberals and conservatives are about equally convinced of the correctness of their views, but extremists are more likely than moderates to feel their views are superior. Read More

Sun-Joo Cho, assistant professor of psychology and human development at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of education and human development, has been named a 2013 National Academy of Education (NAE)/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow. Read More

Neuroscientists have identified the location in the brain's visual cortex responsible for generating a common perceptual illusion: seeing shapes and surfaces that don't really exist when viewing a fragmented background. Read More

Research conducted at Vanderbilt is featured in "Brains on Trial with Alan Alda," a two-part televised series airing Sept. 11 and Sept. 18 on PBS that explores how the growing ability to separate truth from lies may radically affect the way criminal trials are conducted in the future. Read More

A team of Vanderbilt professors will develop new math and reading strategies aimed at improving student success with the support of a new $10 million federal grant. Read More

A team of Vanderbilt researchers has provided important validation of maps of the brain at rest that may offer insights into changes in the brain that occur in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Read More

What exactly pushed Christopher Columbus to embark on a voyage across the Atlantic, or Edward Jenner to test his theory for an early smallpox vaccine on a child, or Henry Ford to bet that automobiles could replace horses? David Zald, professor of psychology, studies risk-taking and is quoted. Read More