Articles tagged with Human Behavior
Scientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute found that the brain recalls larger concepts first when recalling information, then reconstructs details, reversing the traditional encoding and decoding process. This study sheds light on phenomena like eyewitness testimony and stereotyping.
Researchers at Lehigh University found brief online behavioral therapy for parents is equally effective to in-person training in improving children's behavior and parental knowledge. Parents participating in the streamlined 10-week format were more likely to be engaged and complete training.
Researchers developed a new mouse model lacking the Upf3b gene to study its underlying role in intellectual disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders. The study found that Upf3b-deficient mice exhibited defects in neural stem cell specialization, dendrite formation, and sensory processing.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that chimpanzees can spontaneously learn to use sticks to scoop food from water surfaces. The study suggests that some tool-use behaviors are within their pre-existing behavioral repertoire, contradicting the assumption that apes must observe others to learn new behaviors.
Researchers developed a new approach to modeling pedestrian behavior in collisions, combining game theory with the Fokker-Planck equation. Experiments confirm that the calculated paths match actual paths taken, suggesting a reliable solution for optimizing public spaces.
Researchers found that pigeons can switch between two tasks as quickly as humans, with a slight advantage in some cases. The key to this advantage lies in the dense packing of neurons in the avian brain, allowing for faster information processing and task switching.
Researchers have identified a shared neural mechanism for building confidence across multiple senses, including vision, audition, and touch. The study's findings support the supramodality hypothesis, suggesting that confidence estimates share a common format in the brain.
Research from Aarhus University found that once consumers start buying organic products, they are likely to continue and increase the number of organic products on their shopping list. This is due to a phenomenon known as a behavioural spillover effect, where purchasing organic products strengthens consumers' moral identity.
Researchers overturn widely-held idea that visual attention is guided by saliency, instead finding meaning plays a key role. A new map of meaning in images reveals areas with higher meaning attract more attention than those with high contrast or brightness.
Researchers at UCI have identified an important aspect of the brain's navigational system, revealing how rodents process and reactivate spatial information. This new knowledge has high accuracy predictions for animal speed and direction.
Researchers have found that jellyfish, like humans, enter a state of reduced activity at night and exhibit an increased sleep drive when deprived of sleep. This discovery suggests that sleep is an ancient behavior, largely untouched by evolution.
A new report suggests that public pressure can lead to policy changes on plastic pollution, such as levies on single-use plastic bags and bans on microbeads. However, experts argue that a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach is needed to address the root causes of the problem.
A recent study published in Psychological Science found that praising children for their intelligence can lead to dishonest behavior and cheating as early as age 3. The research suggests that this type of praise can create performance pressure, causing kids to feel compelled to cheat in order to meet expectations.
A study by Nagoya University researchers reveals that behavioral laterality in scale-eating fish is acquired through experience, with juveniles initially attacking both sides before favoring a dominant side. The stronger side's kinetic advantages support the theory that lateralized behavior is naturally determined.
Researchers have found that electric eels use a clever trick to deliver an intense shock: they leap from the water to target threatening animals above water. This behavior prevents their electrical discharges from weakening as they dissipate through the water, making it a more effective way to deter predators.
Two new studies from MIT and UMass Medical School shed light on the link between maternal infection during pregnancy and autism. Researchers found that bacterial populations in the mother's digestive tract can influence offspring behavior and discovered specific brain changes associated with autistic-like behaviors.
Two studies found that praising children's intelligence leads to increased dishonesty and cheating. The research suggests that 'smart' praise creates expectations and pressures children to perform well, leading them to cheat. The findings highlight the importance of using specific, behavior-based praise to promote positive outcomes.
Wiley will publish two journals, Journal of Consumer Psychology and Consumer Psychology Review, serving consumer psychology research. Both journals focus on advancing the discipline in a global community.
Researchers at Duke University have pinpointed a single type of neuron, the fast-spiking interneuron (FSI), as the master controller of habitual behavior. Forming a habit makes FSI cells more excitable, and shutting them down with a drug breaks habits in sugar-seeking mice.
Advanced neuroimaging techniques provide a basis for studying circuit-level abnormalities in psychiatric disorders. Recent large-scale research projects, including the Human Connectome Project, have focused on defining and mapping brain functional connections.
Research reveals that caregivers experience improved well-being when their loved ones recognize and appreciate their help. The study suggests that specific conditions, including emotional communication and recognizing the impact of caregiving, are crucial to alleviating the burdens of spousal care.
Researchers found that removing the Lef1 gene disrupts nerve cell development in the hypothalamus, leading to increased anxiety-like behaviors in mice and zebrafish. The study suggests a new pathway to understanding human brain disorders and potential treatments.
A study published by UC San Francisco researchers has identified specific groups of neurons in the brain's temporal cortex that distinguish speaker, phonetics, and intonation. These neurons respond to changes in vocal pitch and help convey meaning and emotion in spoken language.
A Michigan State University study found that salespeople who control the emotional tone of their buyer-seller relationship by expressing gratitude can foster customer loyalty and gratitude. By going above and beyond, salespeople can potentially outperform even long-term relationships in terms of customer satisfaction.
Researchers develop a virtual reality system that decouples movement from perception in animals, allowing for the study of spatial cognition. The system is used to test various behaviors, including navigation, fear response and collective behavior.
Researchers create model to test existing theories on electron transport mechanism in nanomaterials, laying groundwork for AI-powered machine learning devices. They also explore neural networks inspired by the human brain and nervous system.
A report suggests that behavioral science can be used to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of American healthcare by encouraging healthier lifestyles and insurance plan enrollment. The study proposes policy recommendations for employers, insurers, and policymakers to reduce costs and promote evidence-based treatments.
New research from Iowa State University found that police officers' accuracy in detecting concealed weapons or threats is only slightly better than chance. The study's findings highlight the need for better training and research-based approaches to threat detection.
A study found that western fence lizards preferentially flee from dark blue T-shirts over other colors, suggesting they respond to the color itself rather than its detectability. The researchers suggest that this could have implications for animal conservation and ecotourism, where human clothing color may affect animal behavior.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that celebrity Twitter accounts with over 10 million followers exhibit bot-like behavior, retweeting at similar rates as automated accounts. In contrast, smaller accounts are more likely to be bots, which spend less time engaging with human content.
Interventions targeting children reduced sugary drink intake by around 30%, while those for teenagers saw a decrease of nearly 10%. However, adults showed almost no change. The study highlights the need for comprehensive approaches to address this issue, including taxation and environmental changes.
A new study reveals ravens can plan ahead for different events, such as using tools to access rewards, with a high success rate of 86%. Ravens demonstrated self-control by choosing less appealing immediate rewards over better ones, similar to great apes.
A recent study by UZH neuroeconomists found that generosity increases happiness, regardless of the amount. The researchers discovered that intent alone can trigger a change in brain activity, making people happier before they take action. The study provides insight into the interplay between altruism and happiness.
Researchers found that female zebra finches need to hear their father's song to develop the ability to distinguish between high-quality and low-quality courtship songs. The study suggests that environmental factors play a crucial role in shaping the developing brain's perception of vocal signals.
A new study by UCR psychology professor Kelly Huffman found that prenatal ethanol exposure causes abnormalities in the brain and behavior that may be passed on for many generations. The research shows that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to adverse outcomes in future grand- and even great-grandchildren, including reduced bod...
Researchers developed a model to explain human moral behavior in simulated scenarios, showing that machines can adopt human-like moral decision-making. The study has significant implications for self-driving cars and other autonomous systems, sparking debate about the role of morality in machine behavior.
Researcher Andreas Eder found that punishment alone does not suppress undesirable behavior but can even facilitate it. The brain uses behavioral consequences to trigger actions more easily, even if the consequences are disagreeable. Providing clear feedback for desired behavior is crucial in educational practices.
A new technology called Ambient Activity aims to treat the cause of dementia behaviors rather than just symptoms. The device uses personalized content such as photos, games, music, and more to engage patients and promote meaningful physical, mental, and social engagement.
A study found that training enhances attention in the brain, leading to improved performance in tasks like reading x-rays and excelling in sports. However, after extended training, this initial gain in attention disappears, even though behavioral performance remains improved.
A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that drivers who follow another car to a destination are more likely to drive dangerously. They drove faster, made more erratic turns, and followed closer to the car in front. The researchers recommend using a map or navigation device to avoid this behavior.
A new study reveals that mountain lions are afraid of humans and flee when they hear our voices. The findings show that pumas take longer to return to their kills after hearing people, reducing their feeding time by about half. This is significant as it can have implications for their well-being in human-dominated landscapes.
A new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that adolescent mice fed a poor diet lacking omega-3 fatty acids showed increased anxiety-like behavior and poorer memory performance as adults. The study suggests that adequate nutrition during adolescence is crucial for brain refinement and function.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that older female elk adjust their behavior to avoid hunters, reducing movement rates and using safer terrain when near roads. This suggests that learning plays a role in shaping their avoidance of hunters.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a questionnaire-style decision tool to predict young dogs' likelihood of succeeding in guide dog training. The Puppy Training Supervisor Questionnaire (PTSQ) accurately identified 16.9% of dogs, helping trainers assess suitability early and improve training processes.
A new review of research on acute exercise found that it improves executive function, enhances mood, and decreases stress levels in humans. Neurophysiological and neurochemical changes also show widespread brain activation after a single bout of physical activity.
Scientists worldwide agree on a dictionary of terms to study sedentary behavior, an emerging global public health priority. The consensus definitions aim to facilitate research interpretation and comparison, helping to reduce confusion and advance the field of sedentary behavior research.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry suggests that the MMP-9 enzyme plays a crucial role in motivation for alcohol consumption. Researchers found that mice lacking this enzyme were less motivated to drink and exhibited reduced craving during withdrawal. This discovery may lead to the development of novel treatments targeting ...
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that taking antidepressants during pregnancy is not associated with neonatal problems at two to four weeks after birth. Instead, preterm birth was the major factor linked to newborn signs of agitation and restlessness.
A study by the University of Illinois found that younger consumers, particularly those with lower incomes, are more inclined to purchase uniquely shaped fruits. The researchers suggest that marketers can target people who like adventure and seek new experiences by offering avant-garde fruit shapes. The novelty-shaped pears are grown in...
Researchers found that obese children do not need to attend treatment to lose weight with parent-based therapy, which can be more cost-effective than traditional family-based treatment. The study showed similar outcomes in both groups for weight loss, nutrition, physical activity, and parent feeding behaviors.
A new study by NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development found that a parent training program using volunteers, Caring in Chaos, improved parenting behavior, competence, stress, and depressive symptoms for families with children with ADHD. The model has potential to increase access to behavioral parent traini...
Research found that BPA exposure during early development alters genetic pathways, leading to changes in mitochondrial and ribosomal pathways. This can affect cognitive flexibility and memory. The study suggests permanent reprogramming of the brain with developmental exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Research found that high-reputation firms take bigger risks in mergers and acquisitions to meet investor expectations. These moves often result in less related acquisitions and lower stock values. Managers may need to reconsider making risky acquisitions to maintain market trust.
A new Cornell University study has resolved the debate on brain evolution by determining that overall brain size accounts for most differences among vertebrate species. The research found that once a species evolves a larger brain, specialized neural networks develop in brain regions controlling specific behaviors.
A new study found evidence of human-like thinking in tools crafted by modern humans dating back 1.8 million years. The research used advanced brain imaging technology to observe brain activity while crafting simple and complex tools.
Research by Sue Westwood found that parents who gave their children five pieces of praise daily improved their wellbeing, reducing hyperactivity and inattention. The study showed a significant impact of regular parental praise on child behavior over just four weeks.
Research reveals that strong feelings about immigrants are controlled by the immune system, particularly in people with a hypersensitive behavioral immune system. This leads to misconceptions about infection risks and a reluctance to interact with immigrants, blocking integration paths.
A new MIT-developed device can accurately measure walking speed using wireless signals, providing insights into cognitive decline, cardiac disease, and other health issues. The system has 95-99% accuracy and can be placed on a person's home wall without intruding on daily life.
Researchers found that orange essential oil reduced fear responses and diminished immune system markers of stress in mice, suggesting a potential nonpharmaceutical option for PTSD. The study's findings hint at a possible mechanism for the effects of essential oils on brain gene expression.
A study by UBC researchers found that placing bins 1.5 metres away from suite doors increases recycling and composting rates by 141%, with a 70% increase in composting rates in apartment buildings. The study suggests that small changes in convenience can significantly impact environmental behavior.