Could a countdown to death help you lead a more ecstatic life? Daniel Horowitz for NPR hide caption

People drew maps of body locations where they feel basic emotions (top row) and more complex ones (bottom row). Hot colors show regions that people say are stimulated during the emotion. Cool colors indicate deactivated areas. Image courtesy of Lauri Nummenmaa, Enrico Glerean, Riitta Hari, and Jari Hietanen. hide caption

Kids might be more satisfied if they get one good treat instead of one good treat and one lesser treat. iStockphoto.com hide caption

Worrying about finances can tax the brain just as much as staying up all night. Illustration by Katherine Streeter for NPR hide caption

What happens when the average person on the street tries to explain a public policy issue? It tends to make them rethink their position. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

People who are interested in and paying close attention to each other begin to speak more alike, a psychologist says. iStockphoto.com hide caption