Bruce Bower

Bruce Bower

Behavioral Sciences Writer

Bruce Bower has written about the behavioral sciences since 1984. He often writes about psychology, anthropology, archaeology and mental health issues. Bruce has a master's degree in psychology from Pepperdine University and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. Following an internship at Science News in 1981, he worked as a reporter at Psychiatric News, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association, until joining Science News as a staff writer. In 1996, the American Psychological Association appointed Bruce a Science Writer Fellow, with a grant to visit psychological scientists of his own choosing. Early stints as an aide in a day school for children and teenagers with severe psychological problems and as a counselor in a drug diversion center provided Bruce with a surprisingly good background for a career in science journalism.

All Stories by Bruce Bower

  1. Prenatal problems linked to schizophrenia

    Three large, long-term studies found that periods of oxygen deprivation in the fetus, along with obesity and second-trimester respiratory infections in the mother, are associated with adult schizophrenia.

  2. Testosterone’s Family Ties: Hormone-linked problems reflect parent-child bond

    Low or high concentrations of the hormone testosterone may contribute to delinquency and depression mainly in children who have poor relationships with their parents.

  3. Bipolar Math Subtractions: Mental disorder may spur math problems in teens

    A new study suggests that bipolar disorder, a psychiatric illness best known for its stormy mood swings, may frequently undermine mathematical reasoning as well.

  4. Speech veers left in babies’ brains

    The beginnings of left-brain specialization for speech understanding appear in 2-to-3-month-old babies as they listen to an adult talk, according to a new brain-scan investigation.

  5. Secrets of Memory All-Stars: Brain reflects superior recollection strategy

    People who display exceptional recall for lists of information often employ an ancient learning strategy that engages brain areas considered crucial for spatial memory and navigation.

  6. Brain learns to sharpen its focus

    A brain-imaging study indicates that visual learning intensifies activity in a specific part of the neural gateway for information transmitted from the eyes.

  7. Humans

    Cold Comfort

    A futuristic play of cryogenic proportions.

  8. Humans

    Cold Comfort

    A futuristic play of cryogenic proportions.

  9. Anthropology

    Chinese Roots: Skull may complicate human-origins debate

    A Chinese Homo sapiens skull, estimated in a controversial new study to be at least 68,000 years old and probably more than 100,000 years old, may challenge the theory that modern humans originated solely in Africa.

  10. Anthropology

    Chinese Roots: Skull may complicate human-origins debate

    A Chinese Homo sapiens skull, estimated in a controversial new study to be at least 68,000 years old and probably more than 100,000 years old, may challenge the theory that modern humans originated solely in Africa.

  11. Anthropology

    Ethiopians reveal high-altitude twist

    To the surprise of researchers, blood measures of oxygen-rich hemoglobin in Ethiopian villagers living more than 2 miles above sea level are the same as those of lowland dwellers.

  12. Anthropology

    Ethiopians reveal high-altitude twist

    To the surprise of researchers, blood measures of oxygen-rich hemoglobin in Ethiopian villagers living more than 2 miles above sea level are the same as those of lowland dwellers.