Mind & Brain

Short sleepers cruise by on four to six hours a night and don’t seem to suffer ill effects. Turns out they’re genetically built to require less sleep than the rest of us

Aesthetic experiences can improve health and well-being at any stage of life

From the “sleepy girl mocktail” to power naps, researchers explained which sleep trends this year really help with quality shut-eye

Large language models can create muddled, misinformed multiverses

Misfolded proteins may preserve postmortem brains well after other tissues have decayed

In difficult times, a forward-looking mindset may be especially helpful

If we lose sight of why empathy matters, both individual dignity and democracy suffer

Holiday deals are designed to be irresistible. A consumer psychologist explains how to avoid overconsumption and shop sustainably.

When life feels difficult, humor can be a coping mechanism that relieves stress and offers the breathing room to keep going, scientists say

Researchers directed electric current to activate targeted facial muscles and then asked study participants how they felt

Understanding curiosity can help people—and robots—learn faster

Expertise bulks up the brain’s ability to think deeply, a skill that may generalize across tasks