Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science

Maryland PSYCTerps
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Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science is a podcast from the University of Maryland’s Psychology Department that makes psychological research accessible and relevant. Each episode breaks down current studies, explores key psychological topics, and introduces the people behind the science. Episodes range from deep dives into specific studies and research methods to stories about researchers’ career paths, all designed to make complex psychological science clear, engaging, and relevant to listeners outside academia.

  1. 4D AGO

    The Healthy Brain Study

    How early do the experiences that shape who we become actually begin? In this episode of Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science, hosts Mike Dougherty and Joey Barnet talk with Dr. Tracy Riggins, a principal investigator on the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study—the largest long‑term study of early brain development in U.S. history. We explore how researchers are following more than 7,000 families from pregnancy through childhood to understand how biology, environment, and lived experience interact to shape the developing brain. Dr. Riggins explains why the study begins before birth, how infant MRI and EEG work, and what the team is learning about prenatal exposure, risk and resilience, and the protective factors that help children thrive.

    12 min

  2. FEB 9

    Project Pigeon: The bizarre and brilliant story of how a pesky bird almost changed the war

    What if I told you I had developed a new technology that could perceive parts of the color spectrum imperceptible to the human eye? That this technology, with some training, could outperform any known computer, make decisions with near-perfect accuracy, and integrate these exceptional capabilities with a high-fidelity spatial navigation system immune to all known electronic jamming devices—delivering bombs and missiles to designated targets with pinpoint precision? I'm not talking about some newfangled machine learning or artificial intelligence system. I'm talking about the lowly pigeon. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on one of psychology's most bizarre and brilliant experiments: B.F. Skinner's audacious proposal to turn everyday pigeons into a missile guidance system. From the desperate innovation of World War II to the cutting-edge science of operant conditioning, discover how the birds we dismiss as urban nuisances became the stars of Project Pigeon. Further Information Brief Video of Project Pigeon on Military.com Article in American Psychologist summarizing Project Pigeon

    15 min

  3. JAN 26

    Heuristics: Flawed shortcuts, or adaptive tools?

    Perhaps one of the most widely studied topics in psychological science involves the study of heuristics and biases. Starting with the groundbreaking work of Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman, the term "heuristic" became synonymous with decision making, and heuristic mechanisms such as "availability" and "representative" spread throughout psychology and even into popular science. Today, it's hard to imagine an area of cognitive science or economics that has had a greater effect on our understanding of human decision making. In this episode, Mike and Joey discuss some common decision heuristics and biases and the critiques of Tversky and Kahneman's work. Did Tversky and Kahneman have it right? Or, might it be better to recouch decision making in terms of an adaptive toolbox, as proposed by Gerd Gigerenzer?

    16 min

  4. 12/21/2025

    Inside the Psychology of Evil

    When we talk about evil, we often imagine monsters, villains, or people fundamentally different from us. Psychology challenges that idea. Research on obedience, conformity, morality, and power suggests that evil isn’t always about who someone is, but about the situations they’re placed in and the choices they’re pushed to make. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Scott Roberts about explore the psychology of evil with Dr. Scott Roberts.

    20 min

  5. 11/24/2025

    What's the deal with music and the brain?

    Will listening to Mozart really make your kid a genius? Does music training actually make you smarter? And, what about listening to music while studying for that exam -- is that a good idea? In this episode Bob Slevc breaks down some common beliefs about music. Which are myth and which are fact? Turns out it's complicated ... kinda. #MozartEffect #CognitiveTraining #MusicCognition #NeuroMyth

    17 min

  6. 10/27/2025

    Does Tylenol cause Autism? Not so fast

    In this episode, we tackle the controversial claim that Tylenol causes Autism. But,does it really? How strong is the evidence and might there be alternative explanations for this observation? In this episode, Dr. Desi Jones breaks down what the research actually says, what it doesn't say, and why such claims can be detrimental. Suggested Readings Article with Meta-analysis showing no relationship between acedemphin and Autism Spectrum Disorder: The discussed qualitative synthesis used to argue for a relation between tylenol and autism.The Swedish population-based study showing no relationship after controlling for siblings.Opinion Piece by Dr. Jones in the Baltimore Sun.

    15 min

  7. 10/12/2025

    Money & Happiness: It's how you spend it that matters.

    Got a buck burning a hole in your pocket and wondering what you could buy that would make you feel good? Think again, because if you're looking to do something for yourself, maybe it's better to make it about someone else. Tune into this episode to learn about how spending your money on someone else can actually make you feel better. We review a few studies that looked into the topic of prosocial spending and found that it's not how much money you have, but how you spend it that matters the most. And, if you want do actually experience the thrill of helping others, join in on Oct 8th 2025 by participating in PSYC Good Deed Day. Learn more by visiting our PSYC Good Deed Website. (paywalled, sorry!) Aknin LB, Dunn EW, Proulx J, Lok I, Norton MI. Does spending money on others promote happiness?: A registered replication report. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2020 Aug;119(2):e15-e26. doi: 10.1037/pspa0000191. Epub 2020 Apr 6. PMID: 32250135.

    9 min

  8. 09/15/2025

    Cracking the Shell on Kindness

    Have you ever wondered why you feel a little better after doing something nice for someone else? Turns out there's a legit reason! In this episode, Abi and Mike dive into the research on kindness and how being kind can improve your own mental wellness. But how can we move beyond science and actually leverage this research to change the world through action? Here's a thought: How about we organize a national day of good deeds to promote acts of kindness and good deeds! Tune in to learn about the science of kindness and about PSYC Good Deed Day. If that sounds cool, but you don't want to hear us drone on about science, then go to our good deed ⁠website⁠ to learn more. And, if you're down with the science and want to read more, you can find today's featured articles at the links below: Naclerio, M., Lazar, L., Hornstein, E. A., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2025). Exploring the effects of prosocial and self-kindness interventions on mental health outcomes. Emotion. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001577 (it's not open access, so you may need to ask APA to send this to you, or contact the authors (at) ucla.edu). (open access) Cregg, D. R., & Cheavens, J. S. (2022). Healing through helping: an experimental investigation of kindness, social activities, and reappraisal as well-being interventions. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 18(6), 924–941. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2022.2154695⁠

    14 min
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About

Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science is a podcast from the University of Maryland’s Psychology Department that makes psychological research accessible and relevant. Each episode breaks down current studies, explores key psychological topics, and introduces the people behind the science. Episodes range from deep dives into specific studies and research methods to stories about researchers’ career paths, all designed to make complex psychological science clear, engaging, and relevant to listeners outside academia.

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