Last Sunday, I came across a video posted on the Imgur twitter account. As a psychological scientist, I knew that this video and comment alluded to the famous bird/rabbit illusion, first popularised by psychologist Joseph Jastrow, but originally published in 1982. Even in light of the comment attached to…

You might be frustrating the people who peer-review you manuscripts without even realising it. Here are some brief tips on reducing peer review friction from my (limited) experience as an author, reviewer, and associate editor. Copy and paste each reviewer comment (number them yourself if you have to) and respond…

Meta-analysis has become a popular tool to synthesise data from a body of work investigating a common research question. As this provides a putatively objective means of summarising a body of data, it has become the gold standard for evidence when developing health guidelines. However, there are several issues in…

I just came across a new study that investigated the relationship between generalised anxiety symptoms and automonic nervous system function. This is an interesting research question given that generalised anxiety symptoms are often associated with autonomic arousal symptoms, like sweating and palpitations. In this study, 32 participants with social anxiety…

I spoke with Matt Wall about a recent study he co-authored investigating the role of kisspeptin on emotional brain processing for my Physiology and Behavior show. Here’s the transcript of the episode. To listen to this episode, use the player below or follow this link to the show page. …

I just launched a new show, where you’ll find a mix of episodes on research that’s catching my eye in psychiatry and psychology, interviews with other scientists, me sharing my daily research process, and Q&A sessions. There are two reasons I’ve started this show. First, a few months ago I…

The neuropeptide oxytocin is thought to play an important role in social behavior. To better understand how the oxytocin system influences our thoughts and behaviors, researchers often collect blood samples to calculate levels of circulating oxytocin for comparison to various measures of psychological functioning. As lower oxytocin levels have been…

Meta-analyses are used to synthesize bodies of research and can carry considerable weight when it comes to directing policy. However, a big limitation with this method is that the studies included in a meta-analysis can be biased. Publication bias is a well-known source of bias. For instance, researchers might shelve…