Hello everyone! Here is more science to tantalize your synapses and neurons!
- Keep Your Fingers Crossed: How Superstition Improves Performance
- More Than Half the World’s Population Gets Insufficient Vitamin D, Says Biochemist
- Low Vitamin D Levels Associated With Cognitive Decline
- Team Develops Non-Toxic Oil Recovery Agent
- Smoking Mind Over Smoking Matter: Surprising New Study Shows Cigarette Cravings Result from Habit, Not Addiction
- Light and Moderate Physical Activity Reduces the Risk of Early Death
- New Antibacterial Material for Bandages, Food Packaging, Shoes
- A Blood Test for Depression?
- 3-D Gesture-Based Interaction System Unveiled
Keep Your Fingers Crossed: How Superstition Improves Performance: New research shows that having some kind of lucky token can actually improve your performance — by increasing your self-confidence. …Volunteers who had their lucky charm did better at a memory game on the computer, and other tests showed that this difference was because they felt more confident. They also set higher goals for themselves. Just wishing someone good luck — with “I press the thumbs for you,” the German version of crossing your fingers — improved volunteers’ success at a task that required manual dexterity.
~Of course, this is still a form of delusion. Everyone tested in the study was superstitious and had a lucky charm. I’d like to see a study or two that involved people who don’t rely on superstition as well. I think if a person understands the delusion of superstition, they will therefore not need the “lucky” feather in their cap. They will have appropriate self-confidence based on their actual abilities. Still, it’s an interesting study. Read the rest of this entry »
