readings in psychology for august 18th 2010

While at the APA Convention in San Diego, my daughter Karen called me to tell me that her dissertation proposal had been accepted! We can always use another Ph.D. in the family!

Here are some things I am looking at today:

• in Britain, iPad is the way to read books

‘Apple’s iPad has become the preferred way to read books, newspapers and magazines among the Britons who have purchased the device, according to a new study.”

• why drunk drives may get behind the wheel

“A new study shows the impact of alcohol intoxication on reasoning and problem-solving abilities and may explain why some people feel they have recovered enough to drive after drinking.”

• integrated mind body training

‘Just 11 hours of learning a meditation technique induces positive structural changes in brain connectivity by boosting efficiency in a part of the brain that helps a person regulate behavior in accordance with their goals, researchers report.”

• Misdiagnosed with ADHD

” Nearly 1 million children in the United States are potentially misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder simply because they are the youngest — and most immature — in their kindergarten class, according to new research by a Michigan State University economist.”

• don’t stop thinking if you want to quit smoking

“Blocking thoughts of cigarettes helps reduce smokers’ intake at first, but means they smoke more than usual when they stop suppressing, according to new research.”