Articles tagged with Human Behavior
A new article in Neuron presents a model of working memory that captures its flexibility through high-dimensional random networks and structured sensory networks. The model suggests a tradeoff between flexibility and capacity in working memory.
Research from Iowa State University found that cultural values significantly limit the effectiveness of transformational leadership. The four core components of transformational leadership were tested in nearly 200 studies of over 57,000 employees from 34 countries.
A study from the University of Bath aims to address human error in cyberattacks by using technology inspired from exercise and fitness apps. Researchers plan to create a prototype that gently nudges users into changing their passwords, updating privacy settings, and locking screens.
A study found that Wi-Fi location influences online privacy behavior, with people in public spaces like coffee shops being more cautious when using public Wi-Fi. Participants who had a stronger 'publicness heuristic' tendency disclosed less information and engaged in fewer unethical behaviors when connected to public networks.
Researchers found that people tend to trust machines more than humans when it comes to private information, which can lead to online behaviors. The presence of a machine agent on the interface triggers this 'machine heuristic,' making users more likely to share sensitive info.
Scientists studying microscopic worms discovered a brain circuit that underlies repetitive behavior. The study found defects in one protein cause animals to reorient themselves over and over again, similar to human psychiatric illnesses like Tourette's syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.
Marko, a wireless movement-tracking system, transmits low-power radio-frequency signals to analyze reflections and associate them with specific individuals. The system traces movement patterns to provide insights into behavior and health, offering a new passive way to track functional health profiles of patients at home.
A new study found that repeated exposure and child-centered nutrition phrases increased preschoolers' willingness to try and consume new foods. The study suggests that consistent and accurate nutrition messages can help develop healthy eating behaviors in young children.
Research by the University of Saskatchewan found that exposure to inflammation during pregnancy alters brain development, predisposing offspring to psychiatric illness like schizophrenia. Young adult rats exposed to a simulated viral infection displayed abnormal behavior, reduced working memories, and altered fear responses.
Scientists at UCSF have discovered a type of neuron called VIP interneurons that play a crucial role in anxiety-driven decision-making. By shutting off signals from these cells, researchers found they can reduce anxious behavior, offering potential insights into treating brain disorders.
A study by University of Washington researchers identified common triggers for compulsive smartphone use, including waiting for a friend, tedious tasks, and social awkwardness. The team also found that users can find meaning in phone use through apps like meme generators and Kindle, which promote lasting connections to the real world.
Researchers from the University of Oregon found that female bonobos control meat consumption and sharing, similar to male-dominated chimpanzees. They also observed aggressive behavior towards adult males trying to take pieces of meat, but showed tolerance with subadult males.
Researchers found that parasitoid wasp larvae use the ecdysone hormone to hack into spiders' internal code, inducing changes in web construction and behavior. This external parasite rides on the surface of the spider's abdomen, injecting psychotropic substances to access the brain.
A study found that individuals residing near protected areas in France exhibit higher levels of pro-environmental behavior, including increased support for environmental associations and participation in citizen science programs. The research attributes this trend to the inspirational impact of wilder landscapes on nature awareness.
A study by researchers at the University of Buffalo found that nearly two-thirds of cannabis users choose unhealthy snacks like chips when high, despite stereotypes suggesting otherwise.
A Mount Sinai study shows that preschool intervention can improve healthy lifestyle habits in young children, with 12% increase in knowledge and attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle. The intervention group also showed improved behaviors in physical activity, diet, and emotional management.
Researchers found that when we watch people perform actions, our expectations distort our perception of their behavior. However, this distortion does not occur with inanimate objects. The study suggests that our attributions of intention play a key role in shaping our understanding of others' actions.
Scientists have developed a room-temperature liquid metal-based super-stretchable sensor with high repeatability, low cost, and great stretchability. The new device was tested with excellent performance, showing the great potential for application in flexible wearable electronic devices.
A study found that people tend to penalize those who give smaller cash amounts to charity in real terms, without realizing they actually gave more as a proportion of their income. However, when made aware of others' incomes, participants shifted their behavior and penalized the rich for giving less in real terms.
Researchers at Duke University have developed an AI-powered algorithm that can accurately identify and segment neurons from video recordings in minutes, comparable to human experts. This breakthrough has significant implications for real-time behavioral studies and could accelerate progress in neuroscience experiments.
The NASA Twin Study has provided a comprehensive multi-omics view of the human body's response to long-term space flight. The study found increased collagen proteins in urine, correlating with vascular remodeling during space flight.
Researchers developed smart pajamas with self-powered sensors that track vital signs while sleeping. The 'Phyjama' provides detailed information on heart rate, breathing, and sleep posture, helping users and clinicians improve sleep quality.
A UCL-led study found that engaging households in evidence-based face-to-face workshops increases long-term disaster preparedness. Households that received training showed significant improvements in safety measures such as securing objects and having functioning smoke detectors.
Mosquitoes use an olfactory coreceptor called Ir8a to detect acidic volatiles found in human sweat, which is necessary for their host detection system. The study suggests new approaches for designing improved mosquito repellents and potentially even a life-saving perfume.
Research on body-worn cameras found that devices do not produce dramatic changes in police behavior, nor improve citizens' satisfaction with police encounters. However, cameras may reduce complaints against officers and are generally supported by both officers and citizens.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin studied how parent-child collaboration influences children's learning behavior, particularly in a real-world setting. Parents who encouraged their children to explain or explore showed unique effects on child behaviors, with those who explored building more complex gear machines.
A new study published in npj Digital Medicine found that a wearable tracking device called Tingle achieves higher accuracy in position tracking using thermal sensors. The device was able to distinguish between behaviors directed toward six different locations on the head, potentially aiding in the diagnosis and management of conditions...
A new paper proposes that miniaturization is a central tendency in hominin technologies going back at least 2.6 million years. The researchers argue that tiny stone flakes were like disposable razor blades or paperclips, pervasive and easily replaced.
A study by Cornell University found that when robots excel in competitions, people perceive themselves as less capable and less likable. The research suggests optimizing teams of humans and robots to minimize negative effects on human behavior and reactions.
Qi Wang, a neural engineer at Columbia University, has won a $500,000 NSF CAREER Award to develop closed-loop peripheral neural stimulation technology for enhancing perception and cognition. His project aims to use vagus nerve stimulation to control arousal levels and minimize side effects.
Researchers found that collaboration creates a sense of indebtedness, leading people to prioritize the needs of their partner over others. This effect can have problematic implications for ethics, as it may lead to preferential treatment for those who contribute to a cause.
Researchers discovered that the left hemisphere gauges sound changes in time, while the right is more attuned to frequency changes, resulting in alterations in pitch. This finding offers new insights into speech processing and could lead to improved diagnostic and treatment tools for language disorders.
Researchers discovered areas within the motor cortex responsible for muscle control and rapid sensorimotor transformations required for vocal interactions in Alston's singing mice. The study's findings suggest that effective vocal communication may rely on functional separation of sound generation and timing functions.
A new study reveals neural mechanisms responsible for local search in C. elegans, showing that smell and touch responses function independently. The researchers also found that altering brain activity can trigger extended search periods, potentially related to short-term memory.
A review of over 140 studies explores climate change's impact on animal life, including humans, through increased frequency and severity of heat waves. Behavioral changes, such as altered migration patterns and increased water demands, may lead to dehydration and cellular stress.
A new study published in Nature Human Behavior found no evidence of racial or gender bias in the initial review phase of National Institutes of Health grants. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison analyzed over 400 reviewer responses and found that reviewers were focused on the grant applications themselves, rather than ...
A new study from Ohio State University finds that women in relationships with men who regularly watch pornography are more likely to report symptoms of an eating disorder. Perceived pressure to be thin is also a significant concern, with some women feeling pressured by their partners to lose weight and have a thin body.
Klodiana Lanaj has made significant contributions to the science of industrial and organizational psychology, producing 25 refereed publications in prestigious outlets and being cited roughly 500 times. She will receive the Distinguished Early Career Contributions-Science Award at the 34th Annual SIOP Conference.
A new study explores how an individual's genetics and brain activity correlate with altruistic behaviors directed toward romantic partners. The team found that pathways related to bonding in other animals showed up in humans, suggesting a link between empathy and altruism more generally.
Researchers identified compounds that can reduce mosquito hunger for blood, acting on hormone pathways. The study used Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and found a drug capable of inhibiting biting and feeding behaviors.
A new study reveals Cuvier's beaked whales dive up to 1,400 meters, lasting about an hour, with brief recovery times. The findings provide a baseline for studying their reactions to sonar and offer insights into the species' remarkable diving capability.
Scientists parse animal behavior into digestible chunks using an adaptive model, spotting subtleties that would have otherwise been missed. The study found that complex dynamics can be broken down into simple linear patterns, allowing for the quantification of brain states and movement behaviors in various organisms.
A new machine learning-based intention detection method predicts grasping/releasing intentions based on user behaviors, enabling SCI patients to pick-and-place objects. The method utilizes a first-person-view camera and is advantageous in detecting user intentions without requiring person-to-person calibrations.
The MIT robot uses a soft-pronged gripper, force-sensing wrist cuff, and external camera to see and feel the tower and its individual blocks. It learns from visual and tactile feedback, and adapts its moves in real-time to avoid toppling the tower.
A study from Cornell University analyzed 765 million Spotify streams to discover how music intensity varies by season, hemisphere, and chronotype. Researchers found that people in western cultures prefer more arousing music, while those in Asia prefer relaxing music.
New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shows that disrupting memories associated with environmental cues and cocaine use significantly reduces drug-seeking behavior in rats. This breakthrough may lead to developing more effective therapies to prevent relapse, such as targeting specific memories strengthened b...
Biomedical engineers at Duke University developed a framework to predict mutually beneficial biological systems using machine learning. They created a simplified metric to determine collective benefit using variables like temperature, pH, and genetics.
New research by Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business finds that when bad things happen to good people, people are motivated to help, but only in a nominal way. When good things happen to bad people, people are reluctant to act, preferring to wait for karma to catch up.
A new scale measures connectedness to nature in young children, revealing a link between outdoor environment and improved well-being. Parents who encouraged nature play had less distressed children, while those who took responsibility towards nature saw fewer peer difficulties.
The Sleep Research Society recognized four scientists with awards for their groundbreaking work in sleep and circadian research. Louis Ptáček received the Distinguished Scientist Award for his pioneering genetic studies, while Frank A.J.L. Scheer and Steven A. Shea were honored for their seminal discoveries on circadian misalignment.
A new study links certain consumer behaviors, including flossing with Oral-B Glide, to elevated levels of toxic PFAS chemicals in the body. The findings suggest that consumers can limit their exposures by modifying their behavior and choosing flosses without PFAS.
Researchers used augmented reality to investigate the link between active sensing movement and sensory feedback in weakly electric fish. The study found that subtle active sensing movements are controlled by sensory feedback, enhancing sensory information reception. This discovery may have implications for neuroscience and robotics.
A new study has found that a better understanding of dog body language can reduce the risk of dog bites. Children and parents were trained to correctly interpret dog distress signals, leading to significant improvement in accuracy, particularly among younger children.
Researchers found that marmosets prefer melodies with consistent dependencies, mirroring human language structures. This discovery implies that primates already possessed this cognitive ability, shared with humans, around 30 million years ago.
A Caltech-led team of researchers has identified individual neurons that monitor our behavior, catching errors and correcting them quickly. The study provides rare recordings of these neurons, which are involved in error monitoring and have implications for psychiatric diseases like obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Researchers developed high-resolution functional ultrasound imaging to study brain activity in awake and behaving mice. They found that out of 181 consistently identified brain regions, 87 were modulated during the optokinetic reflex, a stabilizing eye movement response.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have discovered neurons that signal the detection of errors, offering insights into executive function capabilities and possible treatments for conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. The study also found a single-neuron correlate of self-monitoring for errors in humans.
The Center for Central Nervous System Function at Brown University has been awarded a $12 million grant renewal from the National Institutes of Health's COBRE program. The funding will support five new research projects and develop new analysis tools to advance brain science.
The study used event-related potentials to assess grammatical gender processing in German, revealing that participants found it difficult to process sentences with mismatches. Grammatically masculine role-nouns seem to be interpreted as specific to men, yet are regularly used to refer to all genders.
Scientists at the National Eye Institute have found that neurons in the superior colliculus are key players in allowing us to detect visual objects and events. The findings show that a specific population of neurons directly cause a behavior, and a mathematical model can predict behavior based on these neurons.