• We have a strong need for closure: we want to find someone guilty and then get on with our lives. Things left unclosed leave us hanging. We’re uncomfortable with the thought that life is chaotic.
• We like simplicity: it’s hard to think about all the complexities that might be involved in a murder case.
• Casey Anthony is attractive: we tend to get really negative when we think that an attractive person is using their attractiveness to try to get away with something. If Casey Anthony were more ordinary looking….




• Role theory: when you put someone in a role – like “the accused” – it’s hard NOT to also attribute other negative characteristics to that person. We see Casey in prison clothes and in handcuffs. It’s hard to think of accused persons as “innocent until proven guilty” these days
• Casey Anthony didn’t seem to be upset when we saw her on TV: we expect her to be crying and distraught all day long. We imagine that we would feel and act that way if our child was murdered. Research shows that no matter what happens to us – really good or really bad – we tend to return to our natural, day-to-day selves within about 6 months. This is especially hard to imagine when the TV news shows us, within about a minute, a picture of a very cute child and then a video of a mother who doesn’t seem to be upset.
• Interesting article on why the jury made the right decision: The Casey Anthony verdict: The jury did the right thing
• Here’s another psychologist’s perspective on the Casey Anthony trial. This blog post is by John M. Grohol, PsyD: The Psychology of the Casey Anthony Trial

The offensive(?) joke:

A man is walking along the street when he is brutally beaten and robbed. He lies unconscious, bleeding. While he is lying there, a police officer passes by, but crosses to the other side of the road, without trying to help. A boy scout troop does the same. As do a number of pedestrians. Finally, a psychologist walks by, and runs up to the man. He bends down and says, “My God! Whoever did this needs help.” Found here.

Psychology and Law: An Empirical Perspective List Price: $40.00 Price: $30.83 Read Reviews

Minds on Trial: Great Cases in Law and Psychology List Price: $39.95 Price: $24.80 Read Reviews

Brain Games Research

• A nice review of the brain training research can be found in this excellent book, "The Invisible Gorilla"


The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us List Price: $14.00 Price: $6.90 Read Reviews

• Brain training for babies actually works (short term, at least)

  Brain training for babies actually works (short term, at least). Products designed to give babies and young children an educational headstart are hugely popular but they're mostly backed up by weak science. In some cases, for …

  Publish Date: 09/12/2011 4:29

  http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2011/09/brain-training-for-babies-actually.html

• Owen, A.M., Hampshire, A., Grahn, J.A., Stenton, R., Dajani, S. Burns, A. S., Howard and Ballard, C.G (2010). Putting brain training to the test, Nature, 465, 775-779.
• Colcombe, S. and Kramer, A.F. (2003). Fitness effects on the cognitive function of older adults. Psychological Science, 14(2), 125-130.
• Papp, K.V., Walsh, S.J. and Snyder, P.J. (2009). Immediate and delayed effects of cognitive interventions in healthy elderly: A review of current literature and future directions. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 5, 50-60.
• Willis, S.L., Tennstedt, S.L., Marsiske, M. Ball, K., Elias, F., Koepke, K.M., Morris, J.N., Rebok, G.W., Unverzagt, F.W., Stoddard, A.M., and Wright, W. (2006). Long-term effects of cognitive training on everyday functional outcomes in older adults. Journal of the American Medical Association, 296 (23).
• Smith, G.E., Housen, P., Yaffe, K., Ruff, R., Kennison, R.F., Mahncke, H.W. and Zelinski, E.M. (2009). A cognitive training program based on principles of brain plasticity: Results from the improvement in memory with Plasticity-based adaptive cognitive training (IMPACT) Study. The American Geriatrics Society.
• For a different perspective, read this article by CogMed a company that makes brain training tools. You’ll see how they critique the Owen, et. al study (above). Putting “brain training” to the test – and about time. They recommend that you read the research that they have conducted. If you do so, do you think their research is more convincing that those cited above?

Resources for this Podcast

• Here is Susan Weinschenk’s blog where you’ll find lots of more information about her and her work.
• Dr. Weinschenk also has a website devoted to her book Neuro Web Design.
• Dr. Weinschenk mentioned in the interview a very interesting site called Kiva. Here’s a little information about the site from their homepage, "Kiva lets you lend to a specific entrepreneur in the developing world – empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty."
• Related episode: In episode 31, Lemon Slices and a New Face on Mars! Gestalt Principles at Work, I talked about how Gestalt principles are used in designing web sites.
• Dr. Weinschenk’s book:
• Other books mentioned during this episode:
  

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Mnemonic Devices used in this episode

• Cerebral Cortex: imagine a Texas cowboy hat on top of a brain. The cortex is the outer layer of the brain just under the hat where complex thinking occurs.
• Corpus Callosum: The corpus callosum is the fibers that connect the two halves of the brain. Thus, it adds the two parts together. Think of the corPLUS CalloSUM. Since the corpus callosum coordinates communication between the two hemispheres, think of corpus Call Someone.
• Thalamus: the thalamus takes sensations that come from the body and directs them to the appropriate part of the brain for processing. Thus, think of Hal and Amos – two traffic cops in the brain who direct these sensations to the right route.
• Hypothalamus: the hypothalamus regulates a number of things in the body such as body temperature, thirst, hunger, and sex drive. Think of “hypo the llamas”. Your llamas are hot, sweaty and thirsty and you use a hypo to spray water on them to cool them down and give them some water.
• Hippocampus: the hippocampus is the seat of memory. Think of a hippo with a compass. The hippo uses the compass to find his way back to the swamp because he can’t remember where it is.
• Amygdala: the amygdala controls your sense of fear. Think of either a MIG coming right at you and, of course, making you afraid, or picture a scary wig with dollars in it
• Pons: the pons helps you relax and sleep. Think of a relaxing pond.
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• Cerebellum: the cerebellum helps in coordination and balance. Picture your favorite athlete with bells all over his/her body (hanging from his/her clothes, hands, feet, etc.).
• Reticular Formation: the reticular formation helps you to become alert and aroused when you need to be. Think of what would happen if you were napping and someone tickled you: your reticular formation would kick into gear to wake you up.
• Medulla: the medulla regulates the autonomic activity of your heart and lungs. Picture medals over your heart and lungs, or stick those medals into a heart.

Psych Files listener Toby sent me this link to an excellent site where you can find mnemonics for all kinds of disciplines: Mnemonics Guide from EUdesign.

If you liked the “Tickle Me Freud” doll you saw in the episode (I got it for my wife as a present), you can get it at Amazon. Click on Freud: