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As World Alzheimer’s Month approaches, supporting personhood for family members with dementia is key

A new study from UConn researcher Amanda Cooper provides suggestions for families to communicate effectively with loved ones living with dementia while upholding their personhood. The study recommends reminiscing about past experiences, expressing gratitude, and adjusting communication approaches based on the individual's current capab...

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalJournal of Family Communication·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 26, 2025

“For the first time, we shared a meaningful exchange”: KAIST develops an AI app for parents and minimally verbal autistic children connect​

Researchers at KAIST have developed an AI-powered app called AACessTalk that enables meaningful communication between children with autism and their parents. The app uses personalized vocabulary cards and customized prompts to foster mutual engagement in dialogue.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 20, 2025

Zoom fatigue is linked to dissatisfaction with one’s facial appearance

A study published in PLOS One found that individuals dissatisfied with their facial appearance experience increased Zoom fatigue, leading to more use of impression management features and reduced intention to adopt virtual meeting technologies. The study highlights the need to address worker well-being in virtual communication environm...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 5, 2025

Names may shape facial appearance over time new study suggests

Researchers found that adults' faces can be matched to their names at above-chance levels, but not in children. Machine learning algorithms revealed greater similarity between adult faces sharing the same name. The study suggests a 'self-fulfilling prophecy,' where social expectations shape physical appearance over time.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJul 30, 2024

Measuring body language

A team of researchers developed EMOKINE software to measure the objective kinematic features of movements that express emotions. The software provides movement parameters from data sets at the touch of a button, allowing scientists to analyze emotional expression and intentions.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalBehavior Research Methods·DateJul 3, 2024

Italians’ and Swedes’ gestures vary when they tell stories, which may show cultures think differently about narratives

Italian speakers gesture more frequently than Swedes when retelling a story, using pragmatic gestures to present new parts of the narrative. Swedes instead rely on representational gestures to convey events and actions, indicating differing rhetorical styles and ways of conceptualizing narratives.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Communication·TypeObservational study·DateMar 26, 2024

How to make the right impression online

A literature review of 124 studies on virtual impressions offers research-based suggestions on how to make a digital best foot forward. Researchers found that timely responses matter and using emoticons and emojis can increase feelings of warmth and likeability but risk making others seem less intelligent.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of Management·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 21, 2024

What type of GIF user are you?

Researchers at Brigham Young University categorized GIF users into three types: Enthusiasts, Searchers, and Referentialists. Enthusiasts use GIFs to express themselves and impress others, while Searchers enjoy the thrill of finding the perfect GIF for a situation. Referentialists rely on pop culture references to respond to GIFs. Under...

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalConvergence The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies·TypeSurvey·DateMar 2, 2023

Dogs show things to humans but pigs do not

Researchers found that companion dogs, but not pigs, would show their owners the location of a food reward out-of-reach. This suggests that directing humans' attention to interesting locations may not be a universal ability among domestic animals. Dogs and other visually communicative species were more likely to use this behavior.

SourceEötvös Loránd University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 23, 2023

What makes us share posts on social media?

A new study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that people share information that is meaningful to themselves or their friends and family. The study analyzed the behavior of over 3,000 individuals and discovered that sharing activates reward centers in the brain and is driven by social relevance.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology General·DateAug 25, 2022

Bees’ ‘waggle dance’ may revolutionize how robots talk to each other in disaster zones

A new study takes inspiration from the 'waggle dance' of honeybees to devise a way for robots to communicate effectively in situations with unreliable network communications. Researchers designed a visual communication system using on-board cameras, allowing robots to interpret gestures and convey complex information.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Robotics and AI·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2022

Some monkeys might pull a poker face

Researchers developed a tool to analyze facial movements in common marmosets, finding they have more facial expressions than previously thought. The study suggests that facial expressions may be more ancient and prevalent among social animals.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 25, 2022

The language of the eyes

A study by Dr. Fuhimiro Kano and colleagues found that humans can distinguish gaze directions from each other more accurately than chimpanzees, particularly in challenging conditions. The researchers used computerized tasks to present images of human and chimpanzee eyes to both species, with white sclera in the chimpanzee eye improving...

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournaleLife·DateMar 8, 2022

What if we have to talk without moving our hands? A study shows whether there is any effect on speech

A study led by Alice Cravotta examined the impact of restricting hand gestures on speech. The researchers found that gesturing did not affect the fluency or acoustic characteristics of speech, but participants produced speech with different prosodic features when gesture production was prevented.

SourceUniversitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona·JournalSpeech Communication·TypeObservational study·DateDec 15, 2021

When building rapport, sometimes less is more

Research from the University of Georgia found that using verbal commonalities alone was more effective in building rapport than combining it with nonverbal mirroring. Participants were willing to discuss personal topics when interviewer used verbal commonalities, but not when combined with mirroring.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalCommunication Studies·DateNov 2, 2021

Medical providers less able to detect authentic pain among Black people than White people, study finds

A new study by E. Paige Lloyd found that medical providers are better at discerning real from fake pain expressions for White people than Black people. This disparity in pain detection could contribute to racial disparities in pain care and treatment recommendations.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

People make irrational trust decisions precisely

A new study at Brighton and Sussex Medical School found that people make irrational trust decisions precisely when online health information includes both 'shouting' and spelling mistakes. The results show an additive effect, making the combination of errors the most concerning for credibility. Experts emphasize the importance of under...

SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateJun 10, 2020

Gestures heard as well as seen

Researchers found that gesturing while speaking affects the sound of a person's voice, adding acoustic emphasis. The study suggests that gestures carry additional information about bodily tension and motion, contradicting traditional views on language.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 18, 2020

Vocalizations and body movement

Researchers found that participants synchronized their arm movements with those of the vocalizer, even with subtle and hard-to-detect movements. The study suggests that musculoskeletal tensioning affects speech, allowing for communication cues like excitement to be perceived through gesture-induced acoustics.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2020