Research on why people act as they do. Covers self-processing across primates, substance use, weight-loss behavior, and nicotine seeking.
Researchers developed a new method to analyze short beta wave bursts in real-time, associated with rats' movements and behavior. The study shows that increasing the recurrence of these bursts can improve motion control and neuroprosthetics.
Researchers propose a holistic framework for understanding how the mind adapts to situations, suggesting that changing states of mind exert coordinated effects on perception, attention, and behavior. By acknowledging and manipulating these dynamic states, individuals can improve performance and achieve a healthier state of mind.
Scientists at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown designed an experiment where mice had to infer water reward locations using indirect evidence. The study revealed key brain regions involved in inference and compared mouse performance to a human version of the task, highlighting the cognitive skill's importance.
Researchers identify specific cortical area responsible for food addiction's loss of control over intake, linked to obesity and eating disorders. The study provides new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying addictive behavior in food, suggesting potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University discovered a mechanism employed by fruit flies to broaden our understanding of visual perception. The team found that L3 neurons, sensitive to brightness, are active in low-light conditions and play a crucial role in detecting sudden changes in luminance.
A study published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics found that individuals with eating disorders use exercise as a coping mechanism for depressive mood and negative thoughts. Exercise can temporarily improve their mood, but this effect is short-lived, leading to a vicious cycle of increased exercise.
Researchers found that classrooms with a higher praise-to-reprimand ratio saw students focus on tasks for up to 20-30% longer. The study suggests that praise is a powerful tool in boosting student engagement and learning outcomes.
A new study finds that mindfulness arises from the interaction between individuals and their situations, rather than being a stable psychological property. The research, which included over 558 participants, reveals three key motivational forces: metacognitive beliefs, mental fatigue, and situational appraisal.
A study published in Perspectives on Behavior Science found that AI models can accurately interpret behavioral data, outperforming a popular visual-aid tool. This could lead to better decision-making and tailored interventions for individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health issues or learning difficulties.
Researchers developed a quantum reinforcement learning framework to explain human decision-making behaviors, revealing a quantum-like neural mechanism. This breakthrough suggests that the human brain functions similarly to quantum systems, with potential implications for machine learning efficiency.
A new study reveals that untrained stray dogs can successfully follow pointing gestures to a specific location, indicating an innate understanding of complex gestures. The results suggest that dogs may have an innate ability to understand certain human cues, transcending training.
A study of 537 Russian primary school students found that the emotional component of school engagement is the most important factor in motivating children to learn. The researchers adapted an international questionnaire and analyzed data, confirming the validity and reliability of the survey.
Research on red titi monkeys reveals that female pair bond maintenance is driven by relationship management, while males provide useful services like offspring care and territory defense. The study supports the 'male-services hypothesis' suggesting females prioritize proximity to maintain relationships.
A recent study published in Nature Human Behavior reveals that the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) activity during motivated control reflects the calculation of surprise. Researchers found that a single mechanism of surprise best accounts for dACC activity, suggesting a unified explanation for cognitive control research.
A study found that lynx reintroduction in Europe led to changes in deer behavior, with humans influencing their day-night rhythm. Deer reduced daylight movements by 1.37 when faced with human disturbances, while the presence of lynx increased daytime activity.
Children aged 10-12 were nearly three times more likely to make healthy eating decisions after watching a TV cooking program featuring healthy food. The study found that children who watched the healthy program were far more likely to choose a healthy snack option, an apple or cucumber.
A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology found that individual psychological ownership boosts personal engagement and creativity, but decreases collective effort. Conversely, collective ownership enhances team engagement, but not necessarily individual performance.
Squid exhibit strong alarm behaviors when exposed to underwater pile driving noise, which can be associated with offshore wind farms. The study found that fast habituation may make squids more vulnerable to predation, while longer periods between pile driving activity may discourage long-term habituation.
Researchers discovered that myokine Dpp, produced by skeletal muscle, regulates feeding behavior by modulating dopamine levels in the brain. This finding sheds new light on the mechanisms governing feeding behavior and has implications for understanding metabolic diseases.
Researchers at Yale University discovered that safety signals, such as symbols or sounds not associated with danger, can relieve anxiety. This approach differs from behavioral therapy and may be an effective way to augment current therapies for anxiety-related disorders.
A new study suggests that taxpayers are more willing to pay their taxes when they recognize how their dollars contribute to the greater good. The research, conducted across multiple countries and demographics, found a positive correlation between tax payment and perceived social benefits.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed models to identify internal states of the brain in fruit flies. By analyzing song patterns and behavioral changes, they discovered three distinct strategies - Close, Chasing, and Whatever - linked to specific neurons controlling these shifts.
A new framework for designing machine learning algorithms helps prevent undesirable behavior, including biases in medical diagnoses and financial predictions. The approach shifts the burden from users to designers, making it easier to create 'well-behaved' algorithms without requiring extensive domain knowledge or complex data analysis.
Researchers found that financial therapy improves couples' overall well-being and financial stability by understanding how financial behaviors are tied to feelings and beliefs. Nearly all participants wanted to learn more about their financial behaviors and communicate better after sessions.
A new study uses deep neural networks to accurately assess neurological disorders in rats and mice, identifying key features of motor impairments. This breakthrough technology has the potential to standardize diagnosis and monitoring of neurological disorders, enabling early interventions and improved patient outcomes.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and Stanford have designed a new framework for fairer, safer machine learning algorithms. The Seldonian framework allows users to specify safety and fairness constraints, enabling the development of more responsible AI applications.
Research reveals that walking changes how we perceive our environment, especially in the peripheral visual field, which enhances processing for navigation. This shift in visual preference makes sense due to the role of peripheral input in tracking movement and direction.
A Danish study found that teenagers with cleanliness rituals and poor insights into their condition are more likely to struggle with OCD despite standard cognitive behavioural therapy. Almost 60% of the patients experienced a worrying relapse after three years.
Researchers observed a dramatic shift from chaotic to ordered motion in jackdaw mobs as they grew in density. The birds initially follow 'topological' rules for winter roosting but switch to 'metric' rules for predator avoidance, leading to the emergence of organized behavior.
Researchers have found that the cerebral cortex can directly control the activities of globus pallidus neurons in a manner that depends on the type of neuron. This discovery could improve our understanding of why certain symptoms occur in movement and learning behavioural disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.
A study on mice has created a set of objective measurements for personality, revealing the connection between genes, behavior, and individual traits. The researchers found that each mouse had a unique personality that consistently informed its behavior.
A study in mice shows that chemotherapy affects gut bacteria, inflammation, and cognitive problems. Researchers found correlations between changes in the gut microbiome and brain inflammation, which could lead to new interventions for cancer patients.
A new USC study found that training robots with a human adversary significantly improves their grasp of objects, leading to better performance in manipulation tasks. The researchers discovered that this approach helps robots learn more stable grasps and succeed more often in real-world environments.
Researchers found genes linked to autism spectrum disorder may play a role in people with uncontrolled eye movements. The study suggests the Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule-Like 1 gene is crucial for normal eye movements.
A team of international researchers has developed a new control algorithm that reduces the complexity of bilateral teleoperation systems while maintaining their performance. The proposed composited stated convergence scheme achieves this by reducing communication channels, resulting in better transient performance.
Computational modeling suggests delayed neural communication underlies anticipatory behaviors, such as tapping along with a metronome or coordinating rowing. The study found that non-musicians exhibit a larger anticipatory tendency than musicians due to pruned attention towards external stimuli.
Researchers found that strong relationships between regulators and firms improve monitoring quality initially, but eventually lead to negligence and collusion. The study suggests an optimal duration for relationships may exist, with mandatory auditor rotation programs potentially reducing failures in some cases.
A Cornell University study reveals that discrimination may occur faster than the blink of an eye, especially when money is scarce. Under conditions of economic scarcity, participants took significantly longer to process black faces than white faces, allocating less money to black recipients.
A team of researchers led by Ben Wilkowski analyzed goal-related words used by English speakers to categorize human goals. They identified four components: prominence (social status), inclusiveness (acceptance of diversity), negativity prevention (avoiding negative outcomes), and tradition (upholding cultural institutions).
A UB researcher's study using 26,000 books suggests that the learning environment plays a significant role in shaping language behavior. The researchers analyzed data from 10 different studies involving over 1,000 participants and found that culture-specific books explained much of the variance in the data.
A University of Michigan study found that minority groups perceive negative news as a call to action, increasing collective effort and long-term change. Negative media depictions can inspire positive behaviors among group members.
A team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers has developed a fully autonomous aerial cinematography system that can learn humans' visual preferences. The system uses deep reinforcement learning to reason about visually interesting scenes, safety, and context, making it useful beyond entertainment and sports applications.
The University of New Mexico-led project, Cognitive Autonomy for Human CPS: Turning Novices into Experts, seeks to develop a framework for improving autonomous technology's adaptability to real-life human behavior. The team will investigate ways to anticipate and mitigate common human-automation interaction problems.
A new study from the University of Arizona suggests that reducing consumption is more effective in improving personal well-being and lower psychological distress compared to green buying. Participants with fewer materialistic values were more likely to engage in reduced consumption and reported higher personal well-being.
Researchers will investigate factors contributing to successful post-adoption development in children adopted from the child welfare system, focusing on household dynamics and physiological mechanisms.
A new study from Oregon State University finds that cats form attachments with their human owners similar to the bonds formed by children and dogs. The majority of cats (65.8%) are securely attached to their caregivers, while 34.2% exhibit insecure attachment behaviors.
A study by University of Michigan wildlife ecologist Nyeema Harris found that human pressures on mammals in West African protected areas are driven primarily by livestock grazing and forest product gathering, not poaching. The research highlights the need for conservation efforts to incorporate livestock husbandry into management plans.
A new international study by Swansea University found that kindness is the top quality people look for in a long-term partner, accounting for 22-26% of their budget. The study also revealed sex differences in mate preferences, with women prioritizing good financial prospects and men favoring physical attractiveness.
Researchers found that Machiavellian employees are more likely to prioritize personal goals over teamwork and civility. This environment can lead to disastrous consequences, as seen in Enron and subprime mortgage crises. Employees with bottom-line mentality tend to act in self-interest, even engaging in unethical behaviors.
A new study found that offering children a variety of vegetables increased their acceptance and consumption. Families who introduced multiple vegetables saw a significant increase in consumption, with parents reporting it as easy to follow the provided instructions.
A new review of scientific literature suggests that medium doses of ADHD medication have the strongest beneficial effects on inhibitory control, a key aspect of impulsiveness. Increasing doses beyond this point may not make a significant difference in symptoms.
A study from the University of Washington found that people exposed to multiple languages can identify words in yet another language better than those who live in monolingual environments. This effect was observed even among those with limited proficiency in other languages, suggesting that ambient exposure plays a role in language lea...
Researchers investigate the neuropsychological basis of body representation in monkeys using a combination of illusions and behavioral tasks. The study reveals how the brain establishes a sense of body ownership, with activity in the premotor cortex correlating with perceived arm position.
A new paper by researchers at the University of Colorado Denver calls for a fundamental shift in how we approach wildfires, from basic recovery to transformation. The study highlights the need for communities to adopt more resilient strategies, such as reducing flammability and promoting prescribed burns.
Researchers have identified a new gene, ADRB1, that regulates sleep duration, found in individuals requiring significantly less sleep. The gene's variant was shown to alter the receptor's function, leading to shorter sleep periods.
A Pitt bioengineer is developing a new approach to improve gait rehabilitation for stroke patients. By understanding how individuals perceive their movement, the researcher hopes to create the illusion of error-free performance during split-belt walking, enabling patients to carry over improvements to daily activities.
Researchers found that dopamine-related changes in the brain stem may influence human behavior and decision-making. Fluctuations in the dopaminergic midbrain have been linked to behavioral variability, suggesting a possible non-random basis for human choices.
By creating a microdevice that mimics the behavior of human airways, researchers have discovered how muscle contraction in the airway causes breathing difficulties in people with asthma. This breakthrough could lead to new treatment strategies for respiratory diseases.
Researchers found that testosterone supplements made people more sensitive to moral norms, contradicting earlier studies that linked high levels of testosterone to immoral behavior. The study suggests that testosterone's influence on behavior is more complex than thought.
New research reveals that prenatal parental stress is a predictor of emotional and behavioral problems in toddlers. The study found that mothers' and fathers' wellbeing before and after birth have a direct impact on their children's behavior by the time they are two years old.