Research on why people act as they do. Covers self-processing across primates, substance use, weight-loss behavior, and nicotine seeking.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are developing online resources to support early-career teachers in implementing effective classroom management practices, which have been shown to lead to improved student behavior and academic outcomes.
Scientists selectively bred zebrafish to exhibit distinct personality traits, finding that brain activities soon changed and new brain regions were activated. The study suggests a rapid pace of personality trait changes and potential implications for human behavior.
Research has found that the brains of humans, flies, and mice share similar mechanisms for brain development and function. This similarity can be interpreted in two ways: as evidence of a single ancestral brain or independent evolution of brain circuits. The study identified shared genetic regulatory mechanisms controlling brain area f...
New research using ultra-high-field MRI reveals the cerebellum has a surface area equal to 80% of the cerebral cortex's surface area, challenging the long-held idea that it is smaller. This expansion is linked to human behavior and cognition evolution, enabling the processing of complex concepts like language and abstract reasoning.
A Baylor University study led by Cathryn Townsend challenges the long-held notion that the Ik ethnic group in Uganda is selfish and loveless. The research found that sharing and cooperation are integral to Ik culture, with a strong emphasis on supernatural punishment for those who do not share.
Research highlights parallels between sci-fi author Frederik Pohl's works and modern world's consumer patterns, including hyper-consumption and ecological disaster. Dr Mike Ryder's study explores how Pohl's predictions are relevant today, with social media and augmented reality games mirroring his futuristic worlds.
The University of Texas at El Paso has been awarded $1.3 million to investigate how neural circuits regulate specific cognitive functions in humans. The research, led by Dr. Manuel Miranda-Arango, aims to identify and characterize glycinergic neurons in the basal ganglia and their connections to other brain areas.
A University of New Mexico research team has identified brain-wide neural correlates of the transition from fear to anxiety, shedding new light on the brain's response to fearful events and why some people don't easily recover. The study found that vulnerability to anxiety correlates with elevated activity in specific regions of the br...
A recent study has identified the precise spot in the brain where distracting stimuli are blocked, allowing concentration on a task. The researchers found that responses to distractor stimuli were abruptly suppressed beyond the sensory cortex, preventing further signal transmission within the cortex and triggering a motor response.
Brown bears increasingly live among human settlements due to habitat loss, leading to conflict and high mortality rates. The study found that connected wilderness areas and nocturnal behaviors are crucial for coexistence between humans and bears.
A recent study published by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that people tend to perceive non-round numbers as unique and jarring, leading to a negative evaluation. This effect has implications for public health messaging, economic marketing, and organizational behavior.
In virtual teams, team members value concrete steps to ensure achievement over charismatic personalities. Effective leadership online is driven by small actions like monitoring timelines, providing feedback, and coordinating teamwork.
A Rutgers-led study challenges the notion that the Ik are selfish and mean, instead revealing their culture promotes generosity. The researchers found that the Ik live by a saying 'tomora marang,' which means it's good to share.
Dolphins use complex techniques like 'shelling' to obtain food, a behavior comparable to tool use in humans. A study revealed that dolphins learn new foraging methods mainly through social transmission among peers, similar to great apes and gorillas. This discovery expands our understanding of how dolphins adapt to changing environment...
A team of researchers from the University of Bristol developed an ant-inspired method for mathematical sampling, which outperforms traditional methods. The study found that ants' collective behavior can be used to create a more efficient way of exploring complex probability distributions.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to describe human behavior in various scenarios, helping to understand decision-making. The study found that people tend to use a linear threshold model, increasing the price they're willing to pay over time.
Elsevier has launched a free access special issue of curated content focused on biodiversity, highlighting the urgent need for climate action and protecting the planet. The collection features over 60 carefully selected journal articles and book chapters supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
A study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that temperament plays a significant role in shaping children's eating habits. Children with temperamental traits are more likely to develop unhappy relationships with food and exhibit picky eating, leading to greater weight issues.
A comprehensive study examined how various motivations to be generous interact with one another. Researchers found that people overwhelmingly chose to be generous to others, regardless of motivation, and that all four established motivators work together in the real world.
Research suggests that COVID-19 lockdowns have a detrimental impact on the diet, sleep, and physical activity habits of children with obesity. Compared to pre-pandemic behaviors, these children consumed more junk food, watched more TV, and slept an extra half hour per day.
Researchers found that rats used an unexpected strategy of adapting their behavior based on previous trial outcomes, rather than relying on a fixed optimal rule. This strategy allowed them to quickly adjust to changing environments and learn from mistakes.
The UTA research team will develop optimal control solutions using bio-inspired learning methods that observe neighbor behaviors in real-time. This will enable the entire group to perform as a single entity, improving individual agent behavior and rejecting negative effects of adversaries.
A recent study from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Oxford found that people are more likely to accept nudges if they know how they work and how effective they are. The study involved over 1700 participants from the US and UK, who were presented with examples of genuine behavioral interventions used by policymakers.
A recent study by Arizona State University's Canine Science Collaboratory found that pet dogs will attempt to rescue their owners if they know how. Approximately one-third of the dogs in the experiment rescued their owners, suggesting that motivation alone is not enough, but rather a combination of understanding and ability are required.
A study of fruit fly sensory neurons has identified a 'thermometer' circuit that relays cold temperature information to the brain, inhibiting morning wakefulness. This finding sheds light on why humans struggle to wake up in winter and may have implications for understanding human sleep regulation.
Researchers have identified a 'thermometer' circuit in the fruit fly that relays information about external cold temperature to the brain, inhibiting neurons that promote activity and wakefulness. This discovery helps explain why humans struggle to wake up in the morning during winter.
A new study found that children exposed to maternal antenatal corticosteroid treatment have a higher risk of emotional, behavioral and psychological development disorders than nonexposed children. The study, published in JAMA, suggests that the long-term benefits and harms of this treatment should be carefully weighed.
Researchers found that exposing people to prosocial models and modeling elicits subsequent helpful acts, driven by goal contagion. People are more motivated to help after witnessing others benefit from the model than when they themselves benefit. This framework can influence new prosocial behaviors amid the pandemic.
Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered the earliest evidence for symbolic behavior, complex pyrotechnology, and projectile weapons in South African archaeological sites. The study reveals that a vast plain, now submerged undersea, was a key foraging habitat for early modern humans during glacial phases.
Scientists discovered widespread synaptic changes in sea slugs that learn to reject non-food objects, offering insight into human learning's impact on the brain. The study found that synaptic modifications occur in concert across various brain areas.
A US Army-funded project is using game theory to identify strategies for encouraging protective COVID-19 behaviors. The researchers aim to understand how individual and community-level decisions affect compliance with orders and recommendations.
A recent study found that mindful movement (Tai-Chi)-based training reduced core ADHD symptoms in school-age children, improving their ability to regulate behavior and control attention. The intervention also improved motor control, which may serve as a valuable biomarker for monitoring response.
Research implicates ACTL6B gene absence in six families with recessive autism. Altered transcriptional repression and neural circuitry defects suggest conserved function and potential for autism research.
A study published in Royal Society Open Science found that small and slowly moving robots can effectively monitor the behavior of salmon in fish farms without scaring them off. The results suggest that these robots can provide valuable insights into the state of the fish, including their health, parasites, and feeding habits.
Researchers found that black rhinos carrying oxpeckers are better at sensing and avoiding humans than those without the birds. Oxpeckers' alarm calls help rhinos detect humans from a safe distance, allowing them to reorient themselves to face downwind.
A new study by University of Texas at Arlington researchers found that people tend to rely on personal anecdotes rather than facts during medical emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This bias can lead to irrational decision-making and a lack of fact-based decision-making when individuals feel vulnerable.
Artifacts at Waim show fixed domestic space and symbolic cultural practices, suggesting regional Neolithic Era began 1000 years before Eurasian counterparts. Radiocarbon dating confirms age of stone carvings and ground stone pestle fragments.
A new study led by the University of Kent found evidence that human ancestors regularly climbed trees, based on analysis of fossil leg bones. This finding challenges previous assumptions about human evolution and suggests that a hominin species may have adopted highly flexed hip joints to facilitate climbing.
Researchers uncovered symbolic stone carvings and artifacts suggesting a fixed domestic space and cultural practices in highland New Guinea. The findings indicate the region independently developed hallmarks of the Neolithic around 1000 years before Lapita farmers arrived.
Researchers at MDC found that mice detect warmth and cooling with the same acuity as humans, relying on a population of neurons increasing activity during warming. Blocking neural pathways associated with warming reveals perception is diminished but not gone.
A recent study in mice found that psychosis may be caused by problems with specialized nerve cells and learning behavior. The researchers hope this could provide insight into the emergence of delusions in patients with psychosis or schizophrenia.
Dr. In-Sue Oh recognized for his significant research on personality assessment and meta-analysis, with over 7,000 citations and an h-index of 34.
Suzanne S. Masterson, former Journal of Organizational Behavior editor-in-chief, recognized by SIOP for her significant impact on the field through over 20 publications and 4,379 citations.
Dr. Christopher M. Barnes has been recognized by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) as a Fellow, acknowledged for his pioneering research on sleep deprivation and work. His notable contributions have been cited over 3,000 times, solidifying his impact on the field.
Ning Li has been recognized with the Distinguished Early Career Contributions-Science Award for his significant contributions to I-O psychology within seven years of receiving his PhD. His work on individual differences and team dynamics has garnered over 2,700 citations and an h-index of 19.
Dr. Paul R. Sackett has made significant contributions to the knowledge of individual differences in cognitive ability, job knowledge, integrity, personality, and more, impacting various fields including education, military, and private organizations.
Scientists classify neurons into three classes based on their response to heartbeat-induced brain motion, revealing differences in firing properties and coordination with cognitive waves. This work aims to bridge scales between microscopic cell behavior and macroscopic cognition.
A new study suggests that squatting and kneeling may be important resting positions in human evolution, as they involve higher levels of muscle activity. This could reduce the health risks associated with sedentary behavior, particularly cardiovascular disease.
A study of 591 people reveals that prosocial choices initially increase happiness, but this effect is reversed after a month. The findings suggest that prosociality may not always lead to increased happiness.
Researchers examined Hadza adults' activity patterns, finding they spent nearly 10 hours a day in nonambulatory postures similar to industrialized populations. However, Hadza adults spent more time in squatting and kneeling postures, which produce muscle activity, suggesting humans need daily muscle activity from both movement and resting
Researchers at MIT developed a system called PUnS that lets robots plan and perform complex tasks like setting a dinner table under uncertain conditions. The system enables robots to weigh multiple requirements and choose the most likely action, based on a 'belief' about probable specifications for the task.
Researchers found that 4-year-olds can understand others' thoughts, but younger children can predict behavior based on surface-level cues. The brain has two distinct systems for perspective-taking, which mature at different ages.
Researchers have uncovered neural mechanisms that govern complex motor sequences in fruit flies, revealing the importance of spatial comparisons in decision-making. The findings could lend insight into pathologies such as Parkinson's Disease and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
A new study reveals that random variation in brain development generates behavioral diversity in fruit flies, contradicting the nature vs nurture debate. The origin of unique behavioral idiosyncrasies lies in individual differences in neural circuit wiring, which significantly influence behavior.
A recent study by Flinders University found that exposure to #fitspiration images increases negative mood and body dissatisfaction among young women. In contrast, exercise behavior was not significantly affected by viewing these images.
A new study assesses road tunnel fire safety mechanisms, finding that increased awareness and education can significantly reduce human life risks. The research highlights the importance of educating commuters on emergency protocols and evacuation procedures in response to a tunnel fire.
Researchers unveiled new methods to decode climate system behavior, develop recyclable composites, and explore alternative energy sources. These advancements aim to improve climate predictions, provide cost-effective adaptation strategies, and promote sustainable practices.
A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that connectedness to nature has a positive association with sustainability practices and behaviors in children, leading to higher levels of happiness. The study suggests that promoting exposure to nature can encourage pro-environmental behaviors and environmental care in younger g...
Conserved epigenetic regulators BAZ2B and EHMT1 identified as novel anti-aging targets in aging research. The study reveals a mechanism for regulating cognitive aging by reducing mitochondrial function.
Early symbolism in modern humans evolved to become easier to remember and replicate, as shown by experiments using engraved ochre and ostrich eggshell fragments. Participants more accurately recognized young patterns than old patterns, suggesting aesthetic intention behind the creations.