Want to wow family and friends even more with your homemade lemonade, smoothies and milkshakes? Serve these drinks in a glass or mug rather than a plastic or paper cup. Sounds strange, but in a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, participants were convinced that beverages served to them in sturdy cups tasted better than those served in a flimsy cups—even though the beverages were the same. Why the difference? Our perception of how good or bad drinks taste is affected by how sturdy the container is—the firmer it is, the more we like what we’re drinking.
[photo: Bryan Davidson]
Next time you’re anxious about a job interview, exam or other stressor, try calling your mom. A new study out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows that simply hearing your mother’s voice triggers a profound soothing effect that zaps the stress hormone cortisol and raises your body’s level of the calming hormone oxytocin, making you feel instantly relaxed. In fact, in the study, girls who were stressed out by having to give a speech and answer math questions in front of a panel of strangers—a major stress-inducer for most people—experienced the same hormone changes whether their mother was physically comforting them in person or doing it remotely over the phone. Best of all, the stress-busting effect was long-lasting, sticking around hours after the task was over, the researchers found.
Having trouble focusing on a project, for instance, a budget you’re writing, a document you’re typing or a paper you’re researching? A recent study out of Washington University reveals an easy, fast solution to amping up your concentration: imagine that you’re holding the computer monitor or document in your hands. Study participants who pictured themselves touching a computer monitor in front of them found it significantly easier to zero in on a computer-based word task than when they imagined holding their hands behind their backs. Why? Our brain automatically zooms in on items that are closest to our hands—even if we only imagine where our hands are, the researchers say.
If you get a gut feeling about something—for instance, whether a salesperson is really offering you the best deal—pay extra attention. It’s not your imagination—your hunch is actually a combination of memories of outcomes from past experiences as well as facts that your subconscious has picked up that are bubbling to the surface to help you make the right choice, according to research from Linköping University in Sweden. And, it’s this kind of “insider” information can help you make the best decision.
Quick—which do you think would make folks want to be closer to you:
Or where you laid your purse, eyeglasses or the remote control? You may have better luck finding them when you cut down on your intake of sugary foods. In a recent Georgia State University study, scientists found that a diet high in sweets impaired spatial memory—the type needed to recall where you placed items—by raising levels of triglycerides, a fat that interferes with brain signals needed to boost memory.
Want to help your children get better grades? On days they have exams, try packing a greeting card in their backpack with a message that includes the letter ”A”, as in “I know you’ll do your best to get an A!” or “You’ll always be an ‘A’ in my book!” Then, tell your kid to open the card right before she or he takes the test. In a recent series of experiments reported in the British Journal of Educational Psychology, students who saw the letter “A” before exams scored about 10% to 25% better than those who saw the letter “F”. 
If you’re a woman, wiggle as you walk and if you’re a man, channel a John Wayne-like shoulder swagger. According to studies from a research team out of Texas A&M University and New York University, women who sway their hips as they walk are perceived as 50% more attractive and men who sway their shoulders as they walk are perceived as more than twice as attractive as those who tread with less motion. Researchers chalk it up to an evolutionary quirk that makes us use body cues to help decipher gender: extra movement in the hips makes us look more feminine and more movement in the shoulders makes us appear more masculine.
Having trouble starting an exercise regimen or continuing the one you began? Try thinking about the many health improvements exercise offers—such as a better mood, less stress, renewed energy, a healthier heart and a lower risk of disease—rather than how many pounds you’ll drop. In a recent Ohio State University study, women who focused on the health benefits of a regular workout reported feeling more energetic and motivated while exercising and less exhausted afterward than those who focused on how their appearance would change. They also enjoyed their workout more and were more likely to continue with it!
Don’t tell them “Boys are better than girls at math”. University of Chicago researchers discovered this is a self-fulfilling prophecy. In their study, girls who were told this statement did 10% worse than they’d previously done on a math test while girls who weren’t told this statement actually improved their score. The link? Once girls are told that boys do better at math, it triggers anxiety about the subject, which then short-circuits the brain areas they need for computing, such as short-term memory, the researchers conclude.
It worked for hundreds of Cornell University students in a recent experiment. Those who chewed gum prior to and during test-taking scored, on average, 30 points better than those who didn’t chew. Shocked? So were the students! Upon announcing the findings, “you could literally hear a gasp from the class,” says Edward McLaughlin, Ph.D., who conducted the study. So, was it a special ingredient in the gum? Nope—past studies show that the simple act of chewing gum eases anxiety, increases your focus and makes it easier to recall information.