Just over one week to go until the submission deadline for abstracts for the BPS Cognitive Section Conference 26-28 August at Liverpool Hope. This is also the deadline for applying for bursaries. Submission details at the link below - bursary information on the main website. tinyurl.com/32nfpk73

We have a number of bursaries for the Cognitive Section Conference, but hurry - the deadline is 31 March. Funding is available for PG presenters and their supervisors, symposium chairs, and those with caring responsibilities. Please see the website for details. www.bps.org.uk/member-netwo...

Nominations for the Cognitive Section Annual Award close at the end of this month. This is for published work reporting novel observations and providing significant theoretical insight into human cognition. Full details are under the 'Awards and Funding' section of the website. tinyurl.com/d9cxhbjt

Liverpool Hope University dates back 175 years, situated on a beautiful campus. This is the location for the Cognitive Section Annual Conference 26-28 August. Full details below - do come and join us! www.bps.org.uk/event/cognit...

Consider submitting an abstract for the Cognitive Section Conference 26-28 August. The deadline is 31 March – submit a poster, paper or symposium at the link below. Full details of bursaries on our website. tinyurl.com/32nfpk73

Vol 11 of the Cognitive Psychology Bulletin is now available on BPS Explore. There is an exciting range of articles, including one on creativity by Kathyrn Friedlander. Link below. tinyurl.com/yd9ey7df

Did you know we are on Facebook and LinkedIn? Find us at www.facebook.com/BpsCognitive... and www.linkedin.com/company/9805...

Prior to the Cognitive Section Annual Conference 26-26 August at Liverpool Hope, there is a workshop on Psychopy & Pavlovia on 25 August. Full details on the conference registration tab. tinyurl.com/32nfpk73

There are funding opportunities for the Cognitive Section Conference 26-28 Aug at Liverpool Hope University. There are bursaries for PG presenters + supervisors, symposium chairs & funding for those with caring responsibilities. Full details on our website. tinyurl.com/d9cxhbjt

Have you considered submitting an abstract to the Cognitive Section Conference 26-28 August at Liverpool Hope University? The deadline for submissions is 31 March. You can submit a poster, presentation or symposium. Full details at the link below. tinyurl.com/32nfpk73

The Cognitive Section Conference 2026 is at Liverpool Hope 26-28 August. Speakers include Sarah Bate & Henry Otgaar. Early bird rate until 18 May. Full details & registration below. www.bps.org.uk/event/cognit...

January drags because of the dopamine clock hypothesis: dopamine shapes reward and our sense of time. Fun boosts dopamine so time flies; gloomy post‑festive periods lower it, making days feel slower. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

Children who learn an instrument for two years develop stronger vocabulary and reading skills. Musical training also helps close the achievement gap for children in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Playing music seems to boost the brain processes that support language. tinyurl.com/5e9vjn32

Journaling isn’t just reflective—it can boost working memory, sharpen attention, and improve problem-solving. Klein and colleagues show writing about events, particularly stressful ones, enhances memory and academic performance. One line a day could make a big difference! tinyurl.com/425syj35

Happy 2026! Want to stick to your resolutions? Try imagery. Daniel et al. (2013) found that picturing future events helps us value them more, boosting motivation. Imagine your future self—it could make your goals feel worth it! tinyurl.com/5b6xdb7n

Christmas nostalgia feels good—but is it accurate? A study found that repeatedly imagining words made them easier to recall and seem linked to positive emotions, even when they weren’t. Remembering may bring pleasure, not truth. tinyurl.com/yc57ex2u

Not a BPS member? Become a BPS e-subscriber, join the Cognitive section and access our events at member rates! www.bps.org.uk/e-subscriber

Avoid costly impulse buys this Christmas! Psychology says: plan ahead. Make a list, set a budget, and stick to it. Intentional shopping beats panic purchases every time. tinyurl.com/bdcum27j

Black Friday feels irresistible partly due to the endowment effect: once we imagine an item as ours, logic fades. Emotional thinking says “buy now before it’s gone,” even if the deal isn’t that great. tinyurl.com/ysaw7p6h

Frantic about Christmas shopping? A meta-analysis of 36 fMRI studies shows generosity lights up reward networks—but patterns differ for altruistic (costly, no reward) vs strategic (reciprocity, reputation) giving, showing different use of ToM. tinyurl.com/mpz8z52s

Cold weather doesn’t just chill the air—it can impact your brain! Research shows low outdoor temps reduce working memory and attention, even indoors. Our bodies prioritise warmth over cognition, with implications for work and learning in winter. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Viewing original art lowers stress and inflammation. Research from KCL & The Courtauld shows cultural experiences protect mind and body—original works have measurable health benefits beyond reproductions. #ArtAndHealth www.kcl.ac.uk/news/the-pos...

Serendipity occurs when a prepared mind meets an unexpected event, triggering dynamic updates in attention and information. If noticed, judgment and amplification cycles lead to creative outcomes. This model predicts ways to scaffold serendipitous moments for innovation. tinyurl.com/23fp55a4

Why do we like to be scared? It seems fear can boost mood. A study found scary experiences like haunted houses reduce stress and improve emotions - especially for those feeling tired or bored - by lowering brain reactivity. psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/201...

New study shows impasse—feeling stuck—isn’t just frustrating, it’s complex and sometimes helpful. Across 4 experiments (N=856), researchers found impasse can boost insight when resolved, and isn’t always negative. Turns out, being stuck might be part of the creative process. tinyurl.com/453y4hkj

How do legal professionals deal with uncertainty in child custody cases? They use a range of cognitive strategies - heuristics & metacognitive strategies, to deal with these complex situations. This has implications for how professional strategies can be refined. www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...

Have a look at our other social media channels for more in depth posts - you can catch up with bios from our committee members! www.linkedin.com/company/9805... www.facebook.com/BpsCognitive...

Unexpected categorical shifts in background sounds disrupt memory. Changing the category of a sound while memorising words reduces recall, but the change can be remembered. This suggests that categorical deviations may trigger attentional capture. www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1...

Hello everyone! We are the Cognitive Section of the British Psychological Society (BPS). We'll be posting here regularly about our activities, what are committee is getting up to, and about cognitive research and related events more broadly. We look forward to chatting with you - please follow us!