News

Virtual-reality support group a new way to deal with grief

By Mary-Frances O’Connor, Lindsey Knowles and Eva-Maria Stelzer Special to the Arizona Daily Star

Over 8 million Americans experience the death of a loved one each year. Nearly half of American women older than 65 are widowed, in addition to one in six American men of the same age.

The Grief, Loss, And Social Stress (GLASS) Laboratory at the University of Arizona is dedicated to examining psychological and physiological aspects of grief and other forms of profound life stress.

Post date: Sun, 01/21/2018 - 00:00

Psychology's power tools

Cognitive behavioral therapy has created interventions that truly help people to change. Here are the best of them

Aeon article by Dave Sbarra

Post date: Mon, 11/13/2017 - 16:03

UA Researchers Look at Mental Impairment After Heart Surgery

Doctors are beginning to understand a connection between heart surgery and mental impairment some patients experience upon leaving the operating room.

During recovery, some heart bypass patients say they're unable to concentrate on tasks, others report a rash of poor decision-making and some complain of general mental fatigue.

Two University of Arizona researchers are looking at the issue from two directions: coronary medicine and neurology.

Post date: Thu, 10/12/2017 - 00:00

UA psychologist gives advice on coping with tragedy

UA psychologist Mary-Frances O'Connor appeared on Good Morning Tucson to talk about how to cope with tragedy. Speaking with anchors Pat Parris and Samantha Cortese, O'Connor stressed that it's normal to be unable to sleep or think about much else in the wake of traumatic events. She said people tend to be resilient and that it's important to do something that feels meaningful, whether it be discussing the event with others or giving blood.

Watch the video on KGUN 9

Post date: Thu, 10/05/2017 - 15:47

Here's why we're all so obsessed with the end of the world, according to Psychology

Congratulations, we’ve survived yet another failed doomsday prediction. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before we brace for another. It seems that humanity is truly fascinated by End-of-the-World predictions. A closer look inside our own minds may help to explain why this is.

Post date: Tue, 09/26/2017 - 00:00

In Memorandum: William H. Ittelson

University of Arizona Emeritus faculty member Bill Ittelson passed away after a long and influential career that spanned many of the traditional boundaries within Psychology. Regarded by many as the founder of the field of Environmental Psychology, much of his work focused on how our environment influences cognition and behavior. The scope of his work was broad and interdisciplinary, ranging from topics in visual perception (such as why mirrors reverse

Post date: Thu, 09/28/2017 - 07:30

UA Team Tackles Better Brain Health

A trial will look at whether a naturally occurring compound, known as angiotensin 1-7, relieves cognitive deficits after heart bypass. The UA collaborators include a cardiologist, a physiologist and a psychologist.

Post date: Fri, 09/22/2017 - 15:14

Could Limiting Naps Support Learning in Children With Down Syndrome?

A robust and growing body of research explores the effects of sleep and napping on learning and memory development in young children. Yet, less work has looked at the cognitive implications of naps for children with Down syndrome — a population that commonly suffers with significant sleep challenges.

Post date: Mon, 08/21/2017 - 00:00

Kids in High-Stress Environments May Develop Unique Skills

Children who grow up in high-stress environments, such as dangerous neighborhoods or financially insecure households, often are described in scientific literature as being at high risk for learning and behavioral deficits.

Yet, a new research article involving the University of Arizona proposes that greater attention also should be paid to what's right with children who grow up in high-stress environments in order to help them succeed.

Post date: Tue, 07/18/2017 - 11:16

UA Research: Brains Evolved to Need Exercise

Mounting scientific evidence shows that exercise is good not only for our bodies, but for our brains. Yet, exactly why physical activity benefits the brain is not well understood.

In a new article published in the journal Trends in Neurosciences, University of Arizona researchers suggest that the link between exercise and the brain is a product of our evolutionary history and our past as hunter-gatherers.

Post date: Tue, 06/27/2017 - 15:12