Neuro News Nanos

Greetings! David DiSalvo here, filling in for Ryan while he enjoys a well-deserved holiday. I’m honored to be your host for the next few days at Neuroworld, which has in short order become one of my top stops on the web, and I’m betting one of yours as well. So without further delay, let’s get this week started with a few choice nanos…

*Just Blink? Think Again – Ever since Blink hit bookshelves, we’ve been awash in news extolling the power of the unconscious.  And hey, the unconscious is truly magnificent, no question — but perhaps a tad oversold?  This piece discusses research that tested the power of the unconscious against the far less glamorous process of conscious deliberation. Guess which one usually wins.

*Men: The Most Misunderstood Animal – We’re not asking for your pity, really we’re not…but we men have it rough. Not only do women think that most of us aren’t romantic enough, but it’s assumed that we get over heartbreak without much trouble, too.  Wrong on both counts  (cue the violins).

*Yet Another Reason to Love Dear Ole’ Dad – Father’s Day 2009 is officially in the books, but that doesn’t mean we should stop serving up the adulation for Dad.  Consider that 95% of all male fathers in the mammalian world turn and run as soon as the bun’s in the oven…read all about it here.

*What a Few High Rolling Rats Can Tell Us about Gambling Addiction – Researchers just never stop finding ingenious uses for rats.  Ironic, isn’t it, that one of the planet’s most reviled animals helps us solve so many problems?  Gambling addiction, for instance.