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DEFENCE
In the wake of the schisms besetting the American Psychological Association, we look at the role of psychologists in defence in the UK. All in the Mind talks to Professor Karen Carr, Director of the Centre for Human Systems at the Defence Academy at Cranfield University, a psychologist with over 20 years’ experience of human factors in defence and Dr David Harper, reader in clinical psychology at the University of East London

TIME STANDING STILL
People in scary and life threatening situations – be they accidents or disasters – often report that time has ‘slowed down’. To see if danger makes people experience time in slow motion, scientists at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, led by Dr David Eagleman, tried scaring volunteers. However, roller coasters and other frightening amusement park rides did not cause enough fear to make time warp. Instead, the researchers dropped volunteers from great heights. Scientists had volunteers dive backward with no ropes attached, into a special net that helped break their fall. They reached 70 mph during the roughly three-second, 150-foot drop. Afterwards they all described the fall as happening in ‘slow motion’ Dr Eagleman explained to All in the Mind the neurological reasons for this sensation.

9/11 GUILT
The terrorist attacks of 9/11 caused mental anguish and trauma to survivors, families of victims and to witnesses. But a long way away from the tragedy a 10 year old British boy was also suffering. He believed that he was to blame for the event. Dr Andrea Cavanna, consultant in behavioural neurology, Birmingham was one of a team of doctors who diagnosed and treated the young patient prior to and after 9/11.