One study cites key differences between men, women and their cheatin’ hearts

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

Some animals, such as swans, mate for life and are totally faithful to their partner. Humans are not nearly as committed and frequently have lapses of infidelity. Psychologist John Lydon of McGill University in Montreal designed a study to determine how men and women differ when they are tempted to stray. The study, which involved 724 heterosexual men and women in serious relationships, was published in the Journal of Personal and Social Psychology.

Young adults in Europe want to get wasted and laid, a bad combination

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

Shakespeare wrote that while alcohol increased sexual desire, it decreased performance. According to a massive survey in Europe, however, enormous numbers of teens and young adults are deliberately using alcohol and other drugs to enhance the sexual experience.

Researcher Mark Bellis from Liverpool John Moores University led the study, which was published in the journal BMC Public Health. Filling out the anonymous questionnaires were more than 1,300 frequent nightlife socializers between ages 16 and 35.

 

It’s healthier to eat real food instead of only its isolated nutrients

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

A steady stream of information bombards health-conscious Americans regarding the latest findings and recommendations about food nutrients. We are told to read labels in order to determine how much of our daily requirement of protein, fat and carbohydrate is contained in each serving. We are further reminded to monitor our entire vitamin and mineral intake lest we fall short of a vital nutrient.

This heavy focus on the minute details of nutritional ingestion has its benefits, yet it may also be leading us astray. University of Minnesota professor Dr. David Jacobs strongly advocates that we stop harping on specific nutrients and instead focus on foods as a whole.

Some faces offer blank slates, while

others can reveal so much

By Dr. Sam Graceffo

Research has shown that whenever we view an unfamiliar face, we make instant judgments. Calculations regarding likability and trustworthiness are devised even before we blink our eyes. The brain appears to have an inborn capacity to evaluate facial features and expressions. Studies of infants have shown they prefer to look at images that resemble faces rather than random patterns.

Two researchers at Princeton University recently displayed hundreds of computer-generated facial images to volunteers in order to study this issue further. Their findings were reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

The argument between hand-held and hands-free cell phones can be a do-or-dial dilemma By Dr. Sam Graceffo

Most of the time driving is a simple task, but it can change in a millisecond, requiring great attention, skill and coordination. If at that moment your awareness has been focused on a conversation conducted on hand-held or hands-free cell phones, a mistake can have disastrous consequences.

In New York state, as well as four other states and a quartet of Canadian provinces, the use of hand-held cell phones is banned. The argument behind these laws is that having your hands busy holding a cell phone could decrease driving performance, whereas a hands-free phone does not present a risk. 

Yoko Ishigami studied this issue and presented her paper to the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals. After reviewing all the current scientific research, she concluded there was no evidence that hands-free was any safer than hand-held. In fact, some findings indicate hands-free is more dangerous.

Issues of rejection can lead to further antisocial behavior

By Dr. Sam Graceffo

Social rejection, postulated as an underlying cause for the recent rash of school shootings, has prompted scores of psychologists to undertake studies on the effects of rejection. And we all know that awful feeling when we sense being excluded by a group.

UCLA social psychologists Matthew Lieberman and Naomi Eisenberg have shown that the brain perceives the anguish of social rejection in exactly the same manner as physical pain. According to the journal Science, the researchers studied brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging while students played a computer ball-tossing game designed to generate feelings of rejection. This is the same situation that would occur if you were playing catch with two other people, and suddenly they stopped throwing the ball your way.

There are many ways to achieve lasting contentment

By Sam Graceffo, M.D.

The Constitution states we all have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But how do we attain this elusive state called happiness? 

An Australian study of twins discovered that about 50 percent of happiness is genetically determined. If you are born with the right hereditary mix that leads to traits of sociability, conscientiousness and the avoidance of excessive worry, you are likely to live a fairly contented life. The other 50 percent relates to a variety of external factors such as relationships, health and finances.

Social pressures explain why women clam up about sex By Dr. Sam Graceffo

It is generally believed that sex is more important to men than to women. Most surveys have found that males start having sex earlier than females, and they engage in it more frequently with more partners.

What you eat can influence how your brain operates

By Dr. Sam Graceffo

Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor at UCLA, has analyzed more than 160 studies about food’s effect on the brain and published his findings in the journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience. He states, “Food is like a pharmaceutical compound that affects the brain. Diet, exercise and sleep have the potential to alter our brain health and mental function. This raises the exciting possibility that changes in diet are a viable strategy for enhancing cognitive abilities, protecting the brain from damage and counteracting the effects of aging.”

 

It’s still difficult to trace the seeds of gayness

By Dr. Sam Graceffo

For decades mental health professionals labeled homosexuality a mental disease. Then in 1973 the American Psychiatric Association removed it from the official list of disorders. So what is it? Mounting scientific evidence indicates that one’s sexual orientation is a complex interaction of genetics, hormones and environment factors.