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Study finds praising middle school students improves on-task behavior by up to 70%

Middle school teachers who praised students more often than reprimanding them saw a significant improvement in class-wide on-task behavior, with some classrooms experiencing improvements of up to 60-70%. The study also found that high-risk students benefited from increased praise, leading to improved grades and reduced behavioral issues.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalJournal of Positive Behavior Interventions·DateAug 25, 2021

New in Ethics & Human Research, July-August 2021

The article considers the ethical issues surrounding enrolling children with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder and fragile X syndrome, in clinical trials. Parents may face difficult decisions about whether to enroll their children due to concerns about potential loss of positive aspects of their condition.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalIRB Ethics and Human Research·TypeContent analysis·DateAug 9, 2021

Vitamin B6 deficiency enhances the noradrenergic system, leading to behavioral deficits

A study found that Vitamin B6 deficiency is associated with social deficits, cognitive impairment, and hyperactivated noradrenergic systems in mice. Supplementing the brain with Vitamin B6 improved these abnormalities, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for schizophrenia patients with Vitamin B6 deficiency.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateMay 25, 2021

Help for serious shopaholics

Researchers and clinicians now have evidence-based criteria to develop targeted interventions for this debilitating condition. Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder is characterized by excessive purchasing without utilising items for their intended purposes and using shopping to regulate internal states.

SourceFlinders University·JournalJournal of Behavioral Addictions·DateMay 4, 2021

A receptor that controls appetite presents a target for anorexia, suggests mouse study

Researchers have successfully altered feeding and anxiety-like behaviors linked to anorexia in mice by targeting the MC3R receptor. The study suggests that fine-tuning the receptor's activity could help change feeding habits and promote weight gain in patients with eating disorders, offering a potential new treatment for anorexia.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 21, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked with six unhealthy eating behaviors

A new study by the University of Minnesota Medical School and School of Public Health found correlations between COVID-19 and six unhealthy eating behaviors, including extreme weight control and binge eating. The study highlights the need for affordable and accessible interventions to prevent and treat eating disorders, particularly am...

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalJournal of Eating Disorders·DateApr 12, 2021

Sharing and enjoying meals with loved ones reduces obesity and improves the health of adolescents

A study conducted by researchers at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya found that family meal routines, such as sharing food and engaging in pleasant conversation, contribute to healthier eating habits among adolescents. The Mediterranean diet's emphasis on conviviality is crucial for promoting a healthy lifestyle.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateApr 6, 2021

Poor judgment of autistic adults

A new study found that autistic adults are often misjudged due to stereotypical behaviors, leading to disadvantage in the legal system. The researchers argue that these behaviors can be misinterpreted by judges and juries, resulting in harsher sentences for autistic individuals.

SourceFlinders University·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·DateApr 1, 2021

Picture books can boost physical activity for youth with autism

A University of Missouri researcher created fitness picture books to increase physical activity in youth with autism, providing a cost-efficient solution for low-income families. The study found that the picture books successfully increased exercise time and encouraged caregivers to provide organized structure during flexible free time.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Applied Behavior Analysis·DateFeb 26, 2021

Neural pathway critical to correcting behavioral errors related to psych disorders found

Mount Sinai researchers identified a neural pathway that detects errors and guides subsequent behavioral improvement, which is frequently dysregulated in psychiatric disorders. They also suggest that neurostimulation of this brain pathway could provide an important mechanism for attention adjustments following behavioral errors.

Highly specific synaptic plasticity in addiction

A new study reveals that specific enzymes outside medium spiny neurons contribute to addiction plasticity, driving drug-seeking and extinction behaviors. The discovery highlights the importance of extracellular matrix remodeling in addiction and suggests novel molecules as potential targets for treatment.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateJan 26, 2021

What are the links between violence and mental illness? Update from Harvard Review of Psychiatry

Research suggests that only a small fraction of violent acts are attributable to mental illness, with most perpetrators not having a diagnosable mental illness. The special issue articles review treatments to prevent violence, violence against family members, risk assessment, mass shooting events, and gun violence prevention.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalHarvard Review of Psychiatry·DateJan 13, 2021

Baylor College of Medicine neuroscientist and geneticist recognized for re

Dr. Benjamin Arenkiel's research identified a convergent brain circuit that combines sensory perceptions and motivational state, linking basal forebrain circuits to behaviors such as anxiety, anorexia, addiction, and more. His work offers a new approach to treating severe eating disorders, obesity, and addictive behaviors by manipulati...

Virtual therapy: The 'new normal' after COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of virtual therapy, allowing clinicians to transition outpatient behavioral-health visits to telepsychiatry. Despite initial concerns about connectivity issues, most patients adapted effectively, with only 10-15% experiencing problems. This expansion may become part of the new normal, ...

SourceWest Virginia University·JournalJournal of Addiction Medicine·DateDec 11, 2020

Common neural circuit and potential target for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder

A glutamatergic neuronal circuit from the prelimbic prefrontal cortex to the nucleus accumbens is responsible for co-occurring anxiety and obsessive-compulsive-like behaviors. Histamine presynaptic H3 receptor activation in this circuit ameliorates stress-induced anxiety and obsessive-compulsive-like behaviors.

SourceNanjing University School of Life Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 2, 2020

Can memory manipulation help treat alcohol addiction?

Researchers at Boston University used optogenetics to study the effects of alcohol on brain function and behavior. They found that artificially dampening fear responses in mice could mitigate addiction-related behaviors. This suggests that memory manipulation may be a promising approach to treating alcohol addiction.

SourceBoston University·JournalHippocampus·DateNov 18, 2020