Michael Tomasello, the James F. Bonk Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, has been awarded the David E. Rumelhart Prize, one of the most important prizes in cognitive psychology. The Cognitive Science Society award honors a team or individual who makes a “significant contemporary contribution to the theoretical foundations of human cognition.” Established in 2001, it includes a monetary award of $100,000 and is funded by the Robert J. Glushko and Pamela Samuelson Foundation. Tomasello, who received his… read more about Michael Tomasello Awarded Cognitive Science Prize »
On July 1, 2021 the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience welcomed its new leadership team: Chair, Professor Elizabeth Marsh, and Associate Chair, Professor Kevin LaBar. Dr. Marsh, who previously served for seven years as the department's associate chair, runs the Marsh Memory Lab at Duke. She received her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Stanford University and completed her postdoctoral work at Washington University in St. Louis. Her recent work examines… read more about Department welcomes new chair and associate chair »
DURHAM, N.C. -- You dash into a convenience store for a quick snack, spot an apple and reach for a candy bar instead. Poor self-control may not be the only factor behind your choice, new research suggests. That’s because our brains process taste information first, before factoring in health information, according to new research from Duke University. “We spend billions of dollars every year on diet products, yet most people fail when they attempt to diet,” said study co-author Scott Huettel, a professor of psychology and… read more about When Taste and Healthfulness Compete, Taste Has a Hidden Advantage »
The Psychology & Neuroscience department is pleased to announce the 2021-22 Costanzo Teaching Fellows (TFs), as well as honor the accomplishments of our Costanzo Teaching Fellows (TFs) from the 2020-21 cohort. Our Costanzo Teaching Fellows (TFs) are a group of outstanding undergraduate students who were selected to gain teaching and mentorship experience in Introductory Psychology (PSY 101), one of Duke’s largest… read more about Costanzo Teaching Fellow Program honors outstanding undergraduate teachers and welcomes new cohort »
June 2021 marks the final month of Professor Scott Huettel’s term as Chair of the department of Psychology and Neuroscience. A toast in his honor was led by incoming Chair and current Associate Chair, Professor Elizabeth Marsh at the close of the final faculty meeting of the academic year, held via Zoom. In an orchestrated effort by Marsh, which included the delivery of a celebratory bottle of wine to Huettel's home unbeknownst to him, faculty and staff raised a glass … read more about After 7 years at the helm, Scott Huettel's term as department chair comes to a close »
When he was an undergraduate political science student, Kerry Haynie was never taught about the 1921 Tulsa massacre. Nor was there much discussion about the role of race in the founding political documents of this country or much examination of how race influenced public services such as sewer lines and zoning. In one sense, a lot has changed. In 2021, Duke’s faculty includes a strong lineup of leading scholars who examine how race is embedded in issues that cross all the schools of the university. This fall, many of… read more about University Course Raises Race as a Central Element of Undergraduate Education »
This month we feature a collection of Duke-authored books that explore historical and current aspects of music in the United States and beyond. These books, along with many others written by Duke authors, are available at Duke University Libraries, the Gothic Bookshop or the Regulator Bookshop. The Song is You by Bradley Rogers Musicals, it is often said, burst into song and dance when mere words can no longer convey… read more about 10 Books About Music from Duke Authors »
The Department of Psychology & Neuroscience welcomes Cristina Salvador, PhD as its newest faculty member, beginning fall of 2021. Salvador’s research centers around understanding how culture (a set of meanings and practices that make up daily realities we face) interfaces with biology to influence our thinking, feeling, and behavior. She analyzes the influence of culture at multiple levels, including the brain, everyday language use, implicit measures, and big data.… read more about Department welcomes newest faculty member, Cristina Salvador »
DURHAM, N.C. -- What makes preschoolers eat their veggies? Raise their hand? Wait their turn? “Because I say so” is a common refrain for many parents. But when it comes to getting kids to behave, recent research suggests that the voice of adult authority isn't the only thing that matters. Around age three, fitting in with the group starts to count big too. That’s the finding of a new study by Duke University researchers showing that, by their third birthday, children are more likely to go along with what others say or do… read more about Sometimes, Even 3-Year-Olds Just Want to Fit in With the Group »
A new Trinity College of Arts & Sciences program offering peer mentoring to Ph.D. students in their first, second or third year at Duke will begin hosting meetings this fall, and has selected the inaugural class of fellows to lead those groups. Designed as small, interdisciplinary mentoring groups each facilitated by a peer fellow, the program aims to help students flourish in their respective doctoral programs – providing a confidential space to navigate frustrations, offering a diversity of perspectives, encouraging… read more about Trinity Launches Peer Mentoring Program for Early-Stage PhD Students »
Since 2015, the Duke University Health System Summer Internship Program has given Durham high school students first-hand experiences in the health care field by allowing them to shadow staff members at Duke University Hospital and across Duke University Health System. Prior to the pandemic, participants in what became the MaryAnn Black Summer Internship Program met in person. Starting this summer, the program will be virtual. Photo courtesy of Darla… read more about Durham Community Connections Stay Strong During Pandemic »
The Duke University Department of Psychology and Neuroscience would like to congratulate junior Khalid Hassan (Psychology BS major, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies & Chemistry minors) on being accepted into the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program. The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program puts a large emphasis on investigating the cultural and historical components of our society. “I already had an interest in medicine and health, and I wanted to understand why the medical world is the way that it… read more about Psychology Major Khalid Hassan Awarded Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship »
Congratulations to Michael Xie, winner of the 2021 Karl E. Zener Award. This award is given annually to an undergraduate psychology major at Duke University who has shown outstanding performance and scholarship, as determined on the basis of both the honors thesis (evaluated by a committee of faculty members) and the total academic record. As part of Michael’s study, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Contextual Predictors of Straight Men’s Negative Evaluations of Gay Men, Michael hypothesized that straight men… read more about Michael Xie wins 2021 Zener Award »
Bridgette Martin Hard, Associate Professor of the Practice of Psychology and Neuroscience, has received the 2021 Robert S. Daniel Teaching Excellence Award from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology. This honor is well-deserved recognition for the outstanding leadership & incomparable pedagogy of Hard, who also serves as the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies in Psychology. Hard is the Principal Investigator and director of the BRITElab (Behavioral… read more about Bridgette Hard wins 2021 Robert S. Daniel Teaching Excellence Award »
Psi Chi is the National Honor Society in Psychology. Membership in Psi Chi recognizes and celebrates a student’s academic achievement and interest in psychology. Founded in 1929, Psi Chi is one of the largest honor societies in the United States with over 990 chapters. Duke has been a chartered member for over 40 years. The purpose of Psi Chi is to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. To achieve these… read more about 26 undergraduates inducted to psychology honor society Psi Chi »
DURHAM, N.C. -- You enter a room and quickly scan the crowd to gain a sense of who’s there – how many men versus women. How reliable is your estimate? Not very, according to new research from Duke University. In an experimental study, researchers found that participants consistently erred in estimating the proportion of men and women in a group. And participants erred in a particular way: They overestimated whichever group was in the minority. “Our attention is drawn to outliers,” said Mel W. Khaw, a postdoctoral… read more about Focus on Outliers Creates Flawed Snap Judgments »
Stella Powell-Williams, Grants and Contracts Manager, has been selected as a recipient of the Dean’s Pillars of Excellence Award for her continued contributions to the excellence of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. In a congratulatory email announcement, Chair Scott Huettel stated: "Stella has been a leader in our department whose many contributions to our grants management, to our administration, and to our culture have been critical for our continuing success during a… read more about Stella Powell-Williams receives 2021 Dean’s Award »
The Department of Psychology & Neuroscience would like to congratulate all of our 2021 graduates. Learn more about this year's class, as well as view video messages, by following the links below: Psychology Graduates Neuroscience Graduates read more about Congratulations, Graduates! »
DURHAM, N.C. -- A multidecade study of young adults living in the United Kingdom has found higher rates of mental illness symptoms among those exposed to higher levels of traffic-related air pollutants, particularly nitrogen oxides, during childhood and adolescence. Previous studies have identified a link between air pollution and the risk of specific mental disorders, including depression and anxiety, but this study looked at changes in mental health that span all forms of disorder and psychological distress associated… read more about Childhood Air Pollution Exposure Linked to Poor Mental Health at Age 18 »
Six members of the Class of 2022 have been named to the inaugural class of Nakayama Scholars. Juniors Sydney Albert, Carlee Goldberg, Erica Langan, Yi Xian “Lyndon” Lee, Ahn-Huy Nguyen, and Micalyn Struble were chosen for their stellar academics, leadership and demonstrated commitment to a career in public service. The Nakayama Public Service Scholarship is part of the university’s efforts to encourage students to use their Duke experience to engage with the large challenges facing communities around the world. The… read more about Six Students Named Inaugural Nakayama Public Service Scholars »
On Wednesday, more than 150 members of the Duke community gathered in front of Duke Chapel to share thoughts on the guilty verdict of Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd, a verdict that Trinity College Dean Valerie Ashby described as a “ray of light in a sea of darkness.” Thirty minutes of reflection on that moment and America’s history was followed by the ringing of the Duke Chapel bells for 9’29”, the period of time that Chauvin kept his knee across Floyd’s neck, preventing him from… read more about Duke Community Gathers to Reflect on Chauvin Verdict and the History of Violence Against Black Americans »
When the world shifted abruptly in March 2020, so too did the research programs of many Duke scholars. Faculty members in myriad fields began gathering real-time data about the pandemic, including several scholars who analyzed various aspects of its psychological impact and are working to bring help to those most affected. Here are a few examples: The COVID-19 Family Study and Coping Together Program Eve Puffer, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience and global health, has spent much of her… read more about Eight Duke Scholars Examining the Mental Health Effects of the Pandemic »
