Monitor on Psychology - September 2011 - (Page 17)

brief In poverty, the researchers say. (Science, June 10, 2011, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/ science.1203618) n Women at the fertile peak of their menstrual cycle might show increased prejudice against strong strangers of different races, according to a study at Michigan State University. The researchers showed women who were at different points in their menstrual cycle photos of men who either matched their own race or were of a different race and asked them to link each man with a physical and mental adjective, such as attractive and smart. Women who were entering the fertile periods of their cycle at the time of the experiment tended to provide less favorable adjectives to different-race men if they perceived those men to be particularly muscular. Researchers say the findings may reflect an evolutionary motivation to avoid sexually threatening strangers when women are most fertile. (In press in Psychological Science, http://dx.doi. org/10.1177/0956797611410985) n Ex-smokers may gain weight after kicking the habit because nicotine permanently impairs the brain’s ability to signal when the stomach is full, says a study at Yale University. The researchers found that in addition to attaching itself to addiction-causing neuronal sites such as dopamine receptors, nicotine also attaches itself to a receptor on neurons in the hypothalamus, which helps regulate appetite. Mouse studies show that this receptor comes to rely on nicotine for normal functioning, so when nicotine is no longer present, the hypothalamus Artificial fats may undermine weight loss, a study finds. is left with a reduced ability to regulate appetite properly. Some antismoking drugs, like the drug cytisine, which isn’t sold in the U.S., contain nicotine-like compounds that target this receptor, which might prevent post-cessation weight gain, researchers say. (Science, June 10, 2011, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/ science.1201889) n “Low-fat” substitutes for fatty foods could cause weight gain rather than prevent it, say Purdue University researchers. They studied rats that were given either low-fat or high-fat Pringles, or a combination of the two. Rats that ate the combination gained more weight than either of the other two groups. Researchers posit that eating low-fat food trains the body to burn less fat in response to particular levels of caloric intake, which ultimately results in more weight gain than eating highfat items by themselves. Eating foods that are naturally low in calories is a more reasonable dieting technique than consuming artificial fats, the researchers say. (Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol. 125, No. 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ a0024404) n 17 septeMber 2011 • Monitor on psychology Photos.com http://www.Photos.com http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1203618 http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1203618 http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797611410985 http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797611410985 http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1201889 http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1201889 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0024404 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0024404

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - September 2011

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court hears psychologists on prison and video game cases
Antipsychotics are overprescribed in nursing homes
New MCAT likely to recognize the mind-body connection
A $2 million boost for military and families
In Brief
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE
On Your Behalf
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Speaking of Education
SCIENCE WATCH
An uncertain future for American workers
Advocating for psychotherapy
PRACTICE PROFILE
ETHICALLY SPEAKING
Seared in our memories
Helping kids cope in an uncertain world
APA and Nickelodeon team up
Muslims in America, post 9/11
Bin Laden’s death
‘They expect us to be there’
Answering the call of public policy
Candidates answer final questions
APA News
Division Spotlight
New leaders
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Disaster relief training
Honoring teaching excellence
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011