Abuse in childhood may change the way genes work: What is more, this lack of attention, the researchers discovered, had chemically altered a gene controlling an important stress hormone. It was a striking case of how nurture affects nature. And it made the researchers curious about whether the same could be happening in humans. Now, by studying the brains of suicide victims, they have begun to explore that question. [Economist]
The Neurobiology of Trust: Our inclination to trust a stranger stems in large part from exposure to a small molecule known for an entirely different task: inducing labor. [Scientific American]
Don’t look now: In 2005, the Journal of Nonverbal Behaviour studied passengers on commuter trains in the United States. It found that commuters were much more likely to make eye contact with passers-by in suburban stations, but as the train neared stops in the city, eye contact was avoided. [New Statesman]
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