A study examining 120 traits has decided the differences between men and women have been exaggerated -- not earth-shattering news to anyone, but always useful to be reminded. The study concluded that only 22% of the traits showed significant differences between the sexes.

CNet has an interesting essay-type article on the implications of modern technology, and the internet in particular, for intelligence. I don't, of course, agree with the conclusions of some, that memory is obsolete and we don't need it anymore, but there's no denying that the advent of such readily accessible information has implications for us in terms of the cognitive skills we need. The point about collective intelligence is also worth thinking about -- we tend to focus so much on individual intelligence, we tend to overlook the importance of this.

Memory research news for August has been uploaded. And my deepest apologies to those who received the newsletter more than once; I wish I knew why it happened.

A review of the past 10 years of research has concluded that good nutrition, education, and positive thinking all help to keep your brain young -- but the most important factor is aerobics.

And a study of people who're "a bit weird" claims that these "schizotypal" personalities are more creative than either normal or fully schizophrenic people, and that this is due to greater use of the right side of the brain. The researchers suggest such people can make associations faster because they're better at accessing both sides of the brain, and notes that a disproportionate number of schizophrenics and schizotypes are ambidextrous.