Does knowing what you want in a relationship impact loneliness and well-being? PhD student Katya Kredl and Prof John Lydon’s two studies suggest yes. For single young adults actively dating, not knowing what they were looking for predicted increased loneliness which decreased life satisfaction.

Your nervous system may influence memory and attention! While the autonomic nervous system is linked to cognitive processes, the connection is unclear in females. PhD candidate Alicia Duval and Prof. Blaine Ditto conducted a review on this connection in females.

We've extended our Fall 2025 deadline for the Experimental Psychology Program!

We’re PSYCH-ed about convocation! This spring, we are thrilled to celebrate all of our graduates: 627 Bachelor’s degrees, 2 Master’s degrees, and 7 PhDs! Félicitations à tous et à toutes!

Congratulations to our PhD student, Jeffrey To, who was chosen as one of 25 finalists in the federal 2025 Social Science and Humanities Research Council Storytellers challenge! 🎉 His 3-minute video on his research on perceptions of diversity, equity and inclusion, was selected among 161 entries.

Emotions can shape what we remember — even events that happen before them. 💭
Through two behavioural experiments led by PhD student Jamie Snytte and Prof. Signy Sheldon, it was found that a neutral video was remembered less accurately if it was followed by an emotional, conceptually related video.

Our research on gaze communication covered by Vice! www.vice.com/en/article/h... @mcgillpsych.bsky.social @commspsychol.nature.com

Meet Professor Mathieu Roy & learn more about his research on "Investigating Music’s Impact on Pain Perception" at the BRAMS-CRBLM Lecture Series on Wednesday April 9th, 3-4:30 pm! 📅 shorturl.at/5WvBE

Fibromyalgia affects more than just pain—it impacts cognition too. A study led by Erika Gentile & Prof. Mathieu Roy explored the cognitive profile of fibromyalgia. They found worse verbal memory & executive function in fibromyalgia, predicted by pain severity & poor sleep—key targets for treatment.

The Music4Pain Research Network is hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (EST)! Register here: tinyurl.com/yckyf4bz

Soutenez-nous! Aujourd’hui, nous amassons des fonds pour le projet — Psychology Research Experience Stipend (PRESti) — dans le cadre de #McGill24. Le don que vous verserez sera bonifié, jusqu’à un dollar pour chaque dollar reçu. Visitez le tinyurl.com/efwcte2j

We are fundraising for the Psychology Research Experience Stipend (PRESti) today, as part of #McGill24. This will allow more undergrads to participate in paid summer research opportunities. When you make a gift, your donation will be matched up to dollar for dollar! tinyurl.com/efwcte2j

Music helps relieve pain, but what’s the best type of music? PhD student Wenbo Yi and Profs Caroline Palmer and Mathieu Roy found that music that matched participant's individual rhythms were best for relieving pain.

DEI efforts should focus on fixing systems, not individuals—a key finding from PhD student Jeffrey To. His research, recently featured in The Conversation, explores why one-time training isn't enough and how societal structures must evolve.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are out, and we are thrilled to be the highest ranked department at McGill, and #21 in the world (climbing from #28 last year). Thank you to our students, faculty, and staff for their outstanding work! reporter.mcgill.ca/mcgill-makes...

Prejudices and stereotypes exist at both individual and regional levels—but how are they connected? PhD student Jennifer Suliteanu and Prof. Eric Hehman explored this in four studies. They discovered that regional prejudice emerges from individual attitudes but remains distinct.

Can close relationships enhance the sense of meaning in life? A research team led by Prof. John Lydon investigated this through five mixed-method studies involving over a thousand participants. They found that having a shared reality with a close partner reduced uncertainty and promoted meaning.

Can changing how we remember our past help reduce social anxiety? Research led by Prof. Signy Sheldon found that conceptually rescripting memories reduced negative self-schemas, strengthened positive beliefs and led individuals to feel less anxious about the future.

What if fear of intimacy was holding you back from living fully? PhD student Helen Thai, Prof. Yitzchak Binik and Prof. Marco Sinai highlights effective therapeutic strategies for addressing sexual aversion in young adults in their recent single-case study report.

Prof. Jelena Ristic presented a TEDx talk “Eyes speak louder than words”, at the HBHL’s Amazing Brain event. 👁️‍🗨️ 💬 The event was organized by McGill HBHL in partnership with Brain Canada. Watch it here: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... @profjristic.bsky.social

Hello, World (of Psychology) 👋 We're here to share the latest in McGill's psychological research and updates from our faculty and students!