Another possibility is that brain structure has become more efficient so that fewer cells and connections are needed. There is certainly evidence that brain size does not equate to intelligence and that what may be more significant is the organisation of the brain (see A2 Complete Companion page 131). This is the suggestion made by John Hawks, who argues that the brain consumes a lot of energy therefore individuals with intelligence and a smaller brain would be selected for.

On the other hand, cognitive psychologist David Geary proposes that our brains are getting smaller because we are becoming more stupid. The argument goes that brain size is related to social complexity but in a surprising way. When population sizes were small brain size did increase as social groups got bigger but only up to a certain level. When human population groups became very large, brain size (relative to body size) started decreasing. Geary points to the fact that brain size started decreasing (about 10-15,000 years ago) at the same time as complex societies emerged. When this happened people didn’t need to be as smart to stay alive because they could rely on others for different kinds of help.

Yet another possibility is decreased aggressiveness. Richard Wrangham, a primatologist, points out that as animals become domesticated there is a reduction in their brain size. In one study where animals were selected for lack of aggressiveness, brain size reduced. Wrangham argues that this has been happening in human societies where high levels of aggressiveness are punished by death or social exclusion.

You can read more about these explanations here.

Written by the same author team, Mike Cardwell and Cara Flangan, these essential companions provide a range of resources for every learning style. They can be used independently or together to support everyone teaching and studying the AQA A Psychology 2012 specification.

But, what about our new A2 Exam Companion out this March? It just so happens that the A2 Exam Companion is publishing in perfect time for us to make sure it also matches the 2012 specification as part of the Third Editions series, so you can rest assured that this book will help with preparation for the exams. Take a peek at some preview material here.

For more information about the new editions or to order inspection copies, please email me at claire.beatt@oup.com with your school or college address.

Cara, editing the script with assistant, Walter

Fresh out of the recording studio is the new AQA A AS Psychology Audio Companion. We’ve finished recording the audio and now it’s being edited, ready for release this spring. Created by leading authors Mike Cardwell, Cara Flanagan and Michael Griffin, these revision files provide easy-to-listen to coverage of every AQA A AS topic to reinforce learning and improve exam performance. Plus, the bite-sized clips and accompanying worksheets are perfect for revision on the go, classroom activities, homework tasks and helping students to catch up on any missed lessons.

Try our our free preview clip and sample worksheet from Unit 4: Biological psychology – Workplace Stressors and feel free to pass this ‘freebie’ onto your colleagues and students.

If you’re interested in finding out more or would like a copy (available on sale or return), please email me at claire.beatt@oup.com with your school or college address. Happy listening!

The picture above is apparently what RNF123 looks like!

His latest post is about whether people can become addicted to their jobs!

Sense about Science gets particularly annoyed by the things said by celebrities. So every year they publish some of the claims made by people who know very little. For example the US reality TV personality Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi said: “I don’t really like the beach. I hate sharks, and the water’s all whale sperm. That’s why the ocean’s salty.” No Snooki, the ocean is not salty because of whale sperm. And Simon Cowell also made the bad science list in 2011. Read these and more here.

You might also be interested in some of their other publications, such as this one about peer review.

According to today’s Guardian

“The use of antidepressants has risen by more than a quarter in England in just three years, amid fears that more people are suffering from depression due to the economic crisis. The number of prescriptions for antidepressants increased by 28% from 34m in 2007-08 to 43.4m in 2010-11, according to the NHS information centre”.

But elsewhere of course there are doubts regarding the usefulness of such treatments, for example according to a “meta-analysis carried out by evolutionary psychologist Paul Andrews, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour. His findings suggest that people who have not taken medication for depression are at a 25 per cent risk of relapse, compared to 42 per cent or higher for those who have taken and gone off an anti-depressant”.

Furthermore “Paul believes that anti-depressants interfere with the brain’s natural self-regulation of serotonin and other neurotransmitters, and that the brain can overcorrect once medication is suspended, triggering new episodes.”

(See links here and here for full details)

I've picked the next experiment just for you

All of this hypnosis is very tiring...

Thank you to everyone who popped by to say hello to us on the Oxford stand. For anyone kicking themselves afterwards for not taking advantage of our ‘Better than Amazon’ discount on The Complete Companions on the day, don’t worry – just drop me a line at claire.beatt@oup.com for the best offers on these well-loved resources. See you at the Zimbardo conference in March.