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Smell of human stress affects dogs’ emotions leading them to make more pessimistic choices

A study found that dogs make more pessimistic choices when exposed to the smell of human stress, reflecting a negative emotional state. The researchers used an observational study with 18 dog-owner partnerships and found that dogs improved their learning about food presence in two trained bowl locations when exposed to stress smells.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateJul 22, 2024

New technology to control the brain using magnetic fields developed

Researchers have developed Nano-MIND technology, which uses magnetism to selectively activate specific deep brain neural circuits, modulating complex brain functions such as cognition and emotion. The technology has been successfully tested in animals, demonstrating its potential to regulate feeding behaviors and maternal instincts.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 17, 2024

Researchers create new template of the human brain

Researchers created a new cortical surface template called 'OpenNeuro Average' that provides greater accuracy and efficiency in analyzing neuroimaging data. The template is based on the geometric shape of the brain and can be used for studies on cognition, clinical neuroscience, autism, and neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalNature Methods·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 16, 2024

Kids given ‘digital pacifiers’ to calm tantrums fail to learn how to regulate emotions, study finds

A study found that giving children digital devices to manage tantrums fails to teach them how to regulate their emotions, instead leading to severe problems. Parents' reliance on digital devices can exacerbate existing emotion regulation issues, emphasizing the need for alternative methods such as coaching and emotional recognition.

SourceEötvös Loránd University·JournalFrontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·DateJul 10, 2024

Harvard researchers find that gratitude is a useful emotional tool in reducing desire to smoke

Researchers found that evoking feelings of gratitude in smokers decreases their craving for cigarettes and increases their likelihood of enrolling in a smoking cessation program. The study suggests that public health campaigns should consider inducing gratitude instead of negative emotions to promote effective smoking cessation.

SourceShorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 1, 2024

Kids given ‘digital pacifiers’ to calm tantrums fail to learn how to regulate emotions, study finds

A study published in Frontiers found that relying on digital devices to calm children's tantrums leads to poorer anger management skills and less effortful control. Children who used digital devices more frequently showed increased frustration and decreased ability to regulate emotions.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateJun 28, 2024

Dancers are less neurotic

A study by Max-Planck-Gesellschaft researchers found that both amateur and professional dancers are less neurotic than non-dancers. They also exhibit higher levels of agreeableness, openness, and extraversion.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateJun 26, 2024

Exercise lifts mood for adults with Down’s syndrome

A new study found that physical activity and cognitive training can improve life satisfaction and mood for adults with Down’s syndrome. The Mindsets study involved 83 participants who were assigned to one of four groups for an eight-week period, including a control group, light physical exercise, or BrainHQ activities.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateJun 13, 2024

Reading pleasure and pain from the brain

Using fMRI, researchers analyzed brain activity while participants experienced sustained pain and pleasure induced by capsaicin and chocolate fluids. The study identified common brain regions activated by both experiences and developed predictive models to capture affective intensity and valence information.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2024

Optimism wards off procrastination

A study published in Scientific Reports found that people with an optimistic outlook on the future are less likely to be severe procrastinators. The researchers surveyed nearly 300 young people and discovered that those who believed their stress levels would decrease in the future were more likely to overcome procrastination.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·TypeSurvey·DateJun 10, 2024

AI-driven tool for distinguishing Lewy body dementia via changes in vocal emotional expression

A new AI-driven tool can accurately diagnose Lewy body dementia by analyzing changes in vocal emotional expressions. The study found that individuals with Lewy body dementia exhibited more negative and calmer emotional expressions compared to those with Alzheimer's disease and healthy controls.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring·DateJun 4, 2024

Baby bonuses and wedding bells: how life's big moments can challenge startups

A study by ECU's Professor Pi-Shen Seet and Associate Professor Wee-Liang Tan found that positive family events have a greater influence on the survival of new ventures, leading to overconfidence and poor decision-making. This can increase vulnerability to making mistakes that harm the venture.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalInternational Entrepreneurship and Management Journal·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 23, 2024

Revealing the conflict mechanism between cognition and emotion

A recent study investigated how specific brain circuits regulate emotional responses in depression, revealing a 'top-down' influence of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on the cingulo-striatal network. This finding suggests disrupting this signal might lead to pessimistic decision-making, a hallmark of depression.

SourceInstitute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2024

After being insulted, writing down your feelings on paper then getting rid of it reduces anger

Researchers at Nagoya University discovered that writing down one's reaction to a negative incident on paper and then disposing of it significantly reduces feelings of anger. The study found that participants who threw away the paper experienced a significant decrease in anger levels, while those who kept it saw only a small reduction.

SourceNagoya University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 9, 2024

Machine learning tools can predict emotion in voices in just over a second

Researchers developed machine learning models that can recognize emotions in voice recordings as short as 1.5 seconds with high accuracy comparable to humans. The study used three ML models and achieved an accuracy of over 90%, with potential applications in therapy, interpersonal communication technology and more.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 20, 2024

Study tracks shifts in student mental health during college

A four-year study by Dartmouth researchers tracks changes in student mental health during college, identifying key populations and stressors. The study found that first-year and female students are at risk for high anxiety and low self-esteem, while sophomores experience increased social activity but higher stress levels.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Interactive Mobile Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies·TypeObservational study·DateMar 13, 2024

Explicit socioemotional learning can have a key role in PE lessons, study says

Researchers found that explicitly teaching socioemotional skills in PE lessons can have a key role in supporting students' communication skills, handling stress and accepting failure. This approach can be integrated into everyday teaching to ensure young adolescents enjoy positive outcomes linked to wellbeing and academic success.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPastoral Care in Education·TypeObservational study·DateMar 13, 2024

Live music emotionally moves us more than streamed music

A recent study conducted at the University of Zurich found that live performances stimulate a stronger emotional response in the brain compared to listening to recorded music. The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to measure brain activity during both live and recorded music sessions, revealing a significant difference in amy...

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 26, 2024

World’s first real-time wearable human emotion recognition technology developed!

A groundbreaking technology recognizes human emotions in real time, combining verbal and non-verbal expression data for accurate emotional information extraction. The system features a personalized skin-integrated facial interface that enables self-powered, flexible, and transparent emotion recognition.

To appreciate music, the human brain listens and learns to predict

Researchers at University of California - San Francisco have developed a precise map of what is happening in the brain’s auditory cortex when someone hears a melody. The study found that some aspects of music are entwined with how we understand speech, while other important aspects stand alone. The brain uses two sets of neurons to ass...

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 16, 2024

Why we hate to wait

A study by Annabelle Roberts explores the internal negotiations that occur when people feel impatient, including the desire for closure. The research finds that people become more impatient as their wait nears an end and offers lessons for marketers to make waiting less annoying.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 15, 2024

Migrant and refugee children need early education supports too

Researchers found that childcare workers in informal creche settings need training to better support non-English speaking migrant and refugee children. The study showed that on-site professional learning improved emotional literacies and strategies for supporting these children, resulting in happier outcomes for families.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalEarly Childhood Education Journal·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2024

Study finds easy things we can do to cope with traumatic loss

A new study by North Carolina State University finds that daily activities called 'uplifts' can significantly improve emotional well-being after a traumatic loss. These uplifting activities, such as engaging in hobbies or spending time with loved ones, are found to be particularly beneficial on days when individuals report feeling older.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalApplied Psychology Health and Well-Being·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 7, 2024

Study suggests secret for getting teens to listen to unsolicited advice

A new study found that emerging adults appreciate their parents' unsolicited advice if they are supportive of their autonomy. Parents can foster this by providing clear guidelines and participating in activities interesting to their teens. Conversely, dismissive postures like 'Because I said so' can cause teens to build walls around un...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalEmerging Adulthood·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2024

Chung-Ang University study highlights barriers preventing bystander help during gender-based violence

A recent study by Chung-Ang University reveals that lack of success in previous intervention attempts and negative emotions are significant barriers hindering bystander interventions. The research highlights the need for targeted education programs to address these barriers, particularly among university students and those experiencing...

SourceChung Ang University·JournalTrauma Violence & Abuse·TypeSystematic review·DateJan 15, 2024

Early study shows health benefits of creative arts therapies and nutrition education for postmenopausal women

A recent study from Drexel University explored an art therapy intervention to address the health needs of overweight, postmenopausal women. The integrated approach showed significant improvements in psychosocial wellbeing, quality of life, and body image, with participants also experiencing decreases in BMI and blood pressure.

SourceDrexel University·JournalArt Therapy·DateJan 11, 2024

Distinct sex differences persist in countries with higher standards of living

Despite improved living conditions, sex differences in personality, verbal skills, and negative emotions are larger in countries with higher standards of living. Women tend to benefit more from these improvements, exhibiting greater altruism and cooperative ability, while men show better cognitive skills but at a smaller advantage.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalPerspectives on Psychological Science·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 3, 2024

Perceived time has an actual effect on physical healing

New Harvard study finds that perceived time influences actual physical healing time, challenging conventional beliefs about psychological influence on health. The study used a standardized procedure to mildly wound volunteer subjects and found that wounds healed faster when participants believed more time had passed.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 2, 2024

Glial tone of aggression

Researchers at Tohoku University found that Bergmann glial cells in the cerebellar vermis regulate the volume of aggression in mice. The study suggests that adjusting glial activity in the cerebellum could lead to therapeutic strategies for managing anger and aggression.

SourceTohoku University·JournalNeuroscience Research·DateDec 5, 2023