Articles tagged with Human Behavior
Researchers found that men who received positive fortune telling outcomes were more likely to take financial risks, while the effect was weaker in women. This study suggests that superstition can influence behavior, even among those who claim not to be superstitious.
A new study from the University of Georgia found that soda taxes in Philadelphia had little effect on reducing sugar intake, as consumers replaced sugary drinks with other sweets. Additionally, shopping for sodas outside the tax area offset most of the decrease in sugar consumption
A study from researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that social media sharers believe they are knowledgeable about the content they share, even if they have not read it. This rise in confidence is due to the public commitment to an expert identity through sharing.
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.
A recent study published in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity found that higher levels of light physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were associated with lower risk of death. In contrast, higher sedentary time was linked to increased mortality risk, regardless of genetic predisposition for longevity.
Research on mice reveals that older fathers produce pups with reduced vocal complexity and lower body weights, similar to children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The study provides evidence for the risk factor of advanced paternal age on infant development.
A nationwide study in Spain found that eating breakfast at home is linked with fewer behavioral problems in young people. The study suggests that skipping breakfast or eating away from home can lead to increased likelihood of psychosocial behavioral problems.
Working-aged adults with and without a history of cancer reported healthier behaviors and steady health insurance status during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of unhealthy behaviors decreased, including insufficient sleep and smoking, while self-rated health improved among all groups.
A new study explores how active parent participation can improve neonatal health and reduce parental stress. The study found that cultural attitudes, collaboration between medical staff and parents, and availability of equipment are key factors in enabling parent-infant closeness.
A study published in Early Education and Development journal found that preschoolers with stronger vocabulary skills at the start of the year display more positive engagement with teachers and peers. The researchers also discovered that inhibitory control is crucial for classroom engagement and learning.
A new study found that households in the UK consumed 6.5% less wine when drinking from smaller (290ml) glasses than larger (350ml) glasses. Drinking from smaller bottles reduced consumption by 3.6%. These findings suggest that reducing glass size could contribute to policies for lowering drinking.
Researchers at the University of Florida found that certain compounds in coffee can directly affect high-sensitivity nicotine receptors in the brain, potentially reducing morning cravings. The study provides a good foundation for further research into nicotine withdrawal and its effects on the brain.
A West Virginia University study explores the link between pregnancy, sedentary behavior, and cardiovascular disease risk in women. The research aims to investigate whether physical activity can reduce or eliminate this accelerated risk development in women.
A new University of Washington study found that bird behavior was not significantly affected by the reduced human activity during COVID-19 lockdowns. In fact, many birds were observed in highly developed urban areas, suggesting that green spaces may serve as important refuges for urban birds.
A study from the Alpha Generation Lab found that hyperactive children are more likely to use digital devices, while fidgety children may be more prone to social problems. The researchers suggest a two-way street where digital devices and behavior problems influence each other.
A team of researchers developed a unified model to predict human movement during large-scale extreme events. The model reveals 'spatiotemporal decay' and 'temporal decay,' showing people limit their mobility near disaster zones and exhibit faster changes in lower income areas.
A WVU researcher is studying corollary discharge circuits in fruit flies to better understand how the brain integrates sensory information and coordinate movement. The goal of this research is to shed light on human disease and human performance, with potential applications for improving fighter pilot safety.
A study found that electronic health record (EHR) order entry-based interventions significantly reduced contrast-enhanced CT utilization within a large health system during the global iodinated contrast media shortage. The number of patients undergoing contrast-enhanced CT examinations per day decreased by 12.0%, and the number of orde...
A large-scale study led by the University of Leicester found that people with a strong sense of fairness cheat less, regardless of winning or losing. The researchers examined the behavior of over 500 participants in lab-based games and discovered that only those with low 'inequality aversion' were more likely to cheat.
A study published in NeuroReport reveals that ultrasound exposure improves depressive behavior in a rat model of depression. OB rats exposed to USV had significantly lower hyperemotionality scores and plasma corticosterone levels than unexposed rats, suggesting potential anti-depressant effects.
The Women's Preventive Services Initiative issues guidelines for preventing obesity in midlife women, recommending counseling on healthy eating and physical activity. The guideline aims to mitigate concerns about weight stigma by normalizing counseling among all midlife women, regardless of BMI status.
A new study from the University of South Australia identifies five key approaches for parents and caregivers to discuss everyday pain with young children. Teaching children that they can control their pain and empowering them to actively engage in pain management can promote lifelong helpful pain behaviors and encourage recovery. By he...
A new study found that HIV-1 Tat expression accelerates age-related diseases in male mice by disrupting neuroendocrine function. Researchers discovered that Tat alters steroid hormone levels, leading to anxiety-like behavior, cognitive errors, and reduced grip strength.
A new analysis of service dog-veteran pairs found that lower dog excitability and closer relationships between veterans and their dogs are associated with reduced PTSD symptoms. Better mental health outcomes were also linked to perceptions of easy care for the dog and more frequent interactions initiated by the veteran.
A study published in Science Robotics journal reveals that humans are unable to distinguish between a humanoid robot's response time variability and that of a human when interacting with the robot. This finding suggests robots can exhibit human-like behavior, raising questions about the blurring line between humans and machines.
A new study found that experiencing the death of a spouse due to COVID-19 may be worse for mental health than deaths from other causes. People who lost a spouse to COVID-19 were more likely to report symptoms of depression and loneliness. The study underscores the ongoing health risks posed by the pandemic, even to those who have not b...
A Japanese study reveals that policy disagreement and politicization led to the split of Japan's largest opposition party in 2017. The researchers found that traditional DIF analysis failed to capture the complexity of party positions, but a corrected version showed strong discord over defense policy.
A study analyzing Twitter data from May 2020 to January 2021 found that the share of tweets about healthy foods increased by 20%, while fast-food and alcohol tweets decreased by 9% and 11%, respectively. The study suggests that people may have made healthier dietary changes during the pandemic, depending on their neighborhood environment.
A new study finds that racial discrimination affects brain microstructure, increasing the risk for health disorders in Black women. Traumatic experiences lead to changes in brain white matter tracts, which may enhance risk for negative health outcomes.
Research on Scotland's minimum unit pricing (MUP) policy found that it was associated with larger reductions in consumption among heavier drinkers, but not among women or those who tend to drink less heavily. Consumption actually increased among the heaviest drinking men following MUP introduction.
A review of over 200 publications suggests that fish perceive quantities using similar brain regions as mammals and birds. This finding could lead to the development of new treatments for human diseases affecting math skills, such as developmental dyscalculia.
The study found that TV ad content drives zapping through irritation, while creativity mitigates zapping by reducing it. Researchers recommend investing in creativity and refraining from too much information to discourage zapping behavior.
A new study found that children's food choices are influenced by their emotional states, particularly during weekends. Children reported consuming more sweet foods and sugary beverages when stressed or sad.
Research found that hunger is strongly associated with feelings of anger, irritability, and lower levels of pleasure. The study tracked participants' emotions and hunger levels over 21 days, finding a significant link between hunger and negative emotional states.
Researchers argue that neurons proactively trigger influx of needed substances to survive, creating a systemwide group of metabolically cooperating cells. This principle is central to learning, driving human behavior. The study aims to explore tumour cell responses to individual behaviors and develop new cancer treatments.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) says inadequate access to nutritious food negatively impacts the health of many Americans, exacerbating social factors and leading to various health issues. The ACP recommends strengthening the nation's food insecurity response and empowering physicians to address social drivers of health.
A decade-long analysis of hockey penalties reveals no evidence that in-game fighting reduces undesirable violence. The study challenges claims suggesting fighting serves as a deterrent, instead indicating it may contribute to more aggressive behavior.
A new study from the University of Missouri found that Himba pastoralists in Namibia are more likely to form long-lasting relationships with others who share similar desirable traits. This suggests that people's actual preferences may differ from their stated desires, and that similarity in desirability is key to successful relationships.
A joint UC Riverside and UC Irvine study found that people who show near transfer in brain training are more likely to experience far transfer, meaning improved focus and problem-solving skills. The research suggests that working memory training can be effective for certain individuals, but its impact on fluid intelligence remains deba...
Research found that people who experience little unemployment after age 35 have better health than those with frequent unemployment in their twenties and thirties. Frequent unemployment can also lead to worse physical and mental health by age 50.
A recent study found that women's desire for leadership roles has remained unchanged over the past 60 years, with a persistent gap in aspirations. The researchers analyzed data from leadership studies and found that even without systemic discrimination, women are less likely to express interest in leadership positions.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that dog-assisted interventions can significantly reduce stress levels in elementary school children, both with and without special needs. The research used salivary cortisol levels to track the effects of dog interactions on stress levels, revealing a decrease in cortisol levels after dog sessions.
Researchers found people moderate portion sizes of energy-rich meals, indicating a degree of nutritional intelligence. Participants ate smaller portions of high-energy density meals than those with lower energy content.
Women with self-injury behaviour show a more effective pain-modulation system, displaying more connections between pain perception and modulation brain areas. This finding suggests that effective pain modulation is a risk factor for self-injury behaviour, providing valuable insights for improving treatment and support.
A new study found that college students reported a higher incidence of unacceptable thoughts and fear of contamination during the pandemic. The study also revealed consistent OCD symptoms across genders, adding to the growing research on mental illness among college students.
Researchers developed an algorithm to improve matching efficiency, considering user preferences and behavior. The new algorithm shows improved results in field experiments, with at least 27% more matches than the current one.
Researchers found that discussing creativity and innovation negatively affects investors' confidence in a company's market performance. However, firms with leaders who discuss creativity positively tend to have higher earnings, suggesting the importance of tone in mitigating this effect.
A Rutgers study found that sales of cigars labeled as 'natural' increased at a faster pace than those without the label from 2017 to 2021. This trend is concerning as it suggests that consumers are perceiving these products differently due to the 'natural' descriptor.
A new theory of decision-making proposes that people often use relative thinking when they should use absolutes, and vice-versa. This theory, developed by Mina Mahmoudi, aims to capture the behavior of boundedly rational decision-makers who struggle with optimal choices.
Researchers found that personal narratives increase empathy and encourage prosocial behaviors, particularly towards higher-risk groups like the incarcerated or healthcare workers. The study suggests using storytelling can shift an individual's perspective and promote behavioral changes in public health interventions.
Research found that decisive people are more confident in their judgments than those who second-guess themselves. The study discovered a link between action control and post-decisional metacognitive bias, suggesting that individual differences play a crucial role in decision-making.
A team from Nagoya University created an artificial neural network model that performed the delayed matching-to-sample task and analyzed its behavior. The model was able to evolve to exhibit human-like metamemory, adapting to its environment by learning and evolving. This breakthrough aims to create machines with memories like humans.
A large-scale study found that team sport participation is associated with lower mental health difficulties in children and adolescents. In contrast, exclusive individual sport participation may lead to greater mental health issues. The study analyzed data from over 11,000 US kids and adolescents.
Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University found that dogs with higher attachment scores spend more time in deep sleep and relax better in new environments. The study suggests a similarity between dog-owner relationships and human-child relationships.
Researchers have developed a new tool to visualize leukocytes in the brain vasculature during in vivo two-photon laser scanning microscopy. The tool uses a fluorescent antibody targeting CD45, a ubiquitously expressed protein on white blood cells, allowing for tracking of circulating leukocytes over time and space.
Wealthy individuals are more likely to purchase unsustainable products with higher price tags, feeling entitled to the benefits despite environmental costs. However, when encouraged to think about equality, this effect is diminished.
Researchers found that tension and lack of it have a significant impact on surgical performance, with shared past successes priming teams for better collaboration
A new weight-loss intervention has been developed to target the instinctive desire to eat, particularly in individuals who struggle with resisting food cues. The Regulation of Cues program trains individuals to use natural hunger cues, reinforces tolerance of cravings, and inhibits urges to eat palatable foods when not physically hungry.
A survey of Seattle area college students reveals that four-year college students drink nearly twice as much alcohol as their community college peers, while using marijuana nearly twice as often. The study suggests that perceptions of peer use may play a role in these differences.
A research team developed a model that mimics human judgment to distinguish between reflective and transparent materials. The model outperformed humans in accuracy but struggled to identify image clues.