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 Michigan have discovered that a single neuron in C. elegans can regulate both speed and direction of movement, routing information through multiple downstream neural circuits. This fundamental biological mechanism has implications for understanding human brain function.
UC Riverside professors Eamonn Keogh and Sang-Hee Lee, along with Mindy Marks, are developing a cell phone-based game to encourage healthy behaviors. The team aims to use financial incentives to motivate participants in both the US and sub-Saharan Africa.
Eiman Azim won the 2014 Eppendorf & Science Prize for his research on neural circuits controlling skilled movement. He identified two separate spinal cord pathways that enable rapid updates and regulation of movements.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee discovered that certain species of cichlid fish exhibit playful behavior, such as attacking a thermometer. This finding suggests that play is not unique to humans and may be an essential part of animal biology.
Researchers found that combining five key healthy lifestyle behaviors - a healthy weight, low abdominal fat, regular physical activity, not smoking, and a balanced diet high in fruits and fiber - reduces the risk of bowel cancer. The study analyzed data from 347,237 men and women over 12 years and found a significant decrease in risk f...
Researchers found that empowering leaders can foster creativity in employees with high uncertainty avoidance and trust. Managers should focus on developing affect-based trust before empowering their team members. By establishing these conditions, managers can create an environment that encourages employee creativity.
A new study reveals TMS treatment normalizes hyperconnectivity in the DMN, while leaving CEN connectivity unaffected. The treatment may act by selectively regulating network-level connectivity.
Researchers at Brown University created a culturally compatible diagnostic approach for autism in Tanzanian children. The approach uses a collection of instruments adapted from established tools, including the Childhood Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (CARS-2) and Malawi Development Assessment Tool.
Researchers found that people respond to surveys by selecting answer options with similar language, even when the similarities are subtle. The study highlights the importance of considering language patterns in survey design and analysis, potentially revealing unique attitudes among respondents.
Fruit and vegetable consumption consistently associated with high and low mental wellbeing, suggesting potential role as driver of mental health in the general population. High mental wellbeing linked to healthier lifestyle habits, while low mental wellbeing strongly linked to mental illness and physical diseases.
A new study found that professional networking can lead to feelings of moral impurity and physical dirtiness, particularly among those with less power. This can hold people back from networking more, reducing career opportunities and lowering job performance.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have found that people with more yellow pigment in their eyes can see better in hazy conditions. The study suggests that eating leafy green vegetables can help maintain healthy vision.
Research reveals that female rats exposed to a common fungicide through their ancestral line are more prone to stress and anxiety. The study suggests that environmental toxins can affect gene expression, leading to adverse effects on offspring.
Researchers found that couples who role-played interacting with a doll during pregnancy exhibited similar behaviors towards each other when playing with their real infant. Positive interactions predicted supportive co-parenting, while negative interactions foretold conflict.
Researchers found that information elaboration discussions are crucial for cross-functional teams to succeed, particularly in dynamic environments. Teams with members who can exchange relevant information and ideas, seek clarification, and integrate feedback tend to perform better.
Researchers at GW University developed a new model to study the impact of faculty development programs on institutional behaviors. The study found that graduates exhibited enhanced confidence and new behaviors, influencing their colleagues' practices and work units.
Researchers found that reducing brain levels of tau protein effectively blocks disease development in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome. This approach also improved cognitive and behavioral abnormalities associated with the syndrome.
A recent study by Hayley Cleary found that few juvenile suspects are aware of their constitutional rights during interrogations, with parents largely absent and lawyers rarely present. This raises concerns about due process and the vulnerability of adolescents to coercive interrogation tactics.
JNEB has announced the 2014 Best Article and Best Great Educational Material (GEM) awards, recognizing authors who developed a curriculum to promote healthy eating habits and prevent childhood obesity. The winners include Amy Storfer-Isser and Dara Musher-Eizenman for their article on meal planning and preparation.
New research by academics at the University of Bristol's Nutrition and Behaviour Unit found that people factor in liquid calories when estimating a meal's satiating effect. The study, led by Professor Jeff Brunstrom, compared meals with calorific drinks to those served with water or snacks.
Research reveals maternal obesity alters offspring microflora composition, increasing firmicutes to bacteriodetes ratio and gastrointestinal permeability. This non-genetic factor may contribute to increased susceptibility to obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
Researchers at University of Bristol found that liquid calories from soft drinks are taken into account when planning meals. Meals served with a calorific drink were expected to be more satiating than those served with water or snacks.
Research reveals that starting a diet at a younger age predicts several negative health outcomes in adulthood, including extreme weight control behaviors and obesity. The study's findings emphasize the need for public health initiatives promoting wellness behaviors in girls from an early age.
Research from University of Illinois expert Ravi Mehta found that people are self-controlled in everyday behavior, but indulge when thinking long-term. Abstract thinking can lead to feelings of missing out, regret, and corrective overindulgence, contradicting common consumer psychology literature.
A new study found that mothers who return to work full-time are less likely to meet their breastfeeding goals, while part-time work shows no association. Mothers who delayed their return to paid employment or returned at part-time hours may have better chances of achieving their breastfeeding intentions.
A study by Yale University researchers found that obese women were impaired in learning associations between food cues and rewards, but normal-weight individuals and men did not show the same impairment. This suggests a specific behavioral intervention targeting food-specific learning impairments may be effective in treating obesity.
A Rutgers University-Newark researcher is studying skilled readers to determine whether their choice of word meaning vs. word sounds impacts their reading ability. He found that good readers differ in how they use word meanings when reading aloud, with variations even among the most proficient readers.
A study by Georgia State University researchers found that subtle variations in neural connections can impact behavior and susceptibility to brain injury. The findings have significant implications for predicting patient outcomes and tailoring treatments.
Researchers discovered that hidden differences in neural circuits can account for varying responses to brain injury. The study used sea slugs and found that artificially rewiring the neural circuit made some animals susceptible or invulnerable to injury.
Research finds physical fitness buffers adverse health effects of prolonged sitting, reducing associations with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Higher fitness levels are linked to reduced adiposity and improved metabolic measures.
Adjusting dietary manipulation may help patients with various conditions by influencing the internal biological clock. Insulin plays a crucial role in resetting the circadian clock, allowing for effective digestion and absorption.
A team of researchers at Brown University developed a wireless virtual reality system to study how pedestrians interact with each other and how their individual behaviors generate patterns of crowd movement. The system, which allows for the creation of virtual crowds, has shown that people tend to match the speed and direction of their...
A new wellness approach called Eat for Life, focusing on mindfulness and intuitive eating, is more effective than traditional weight-loss programs in improving body image and reducing problematic eating behaviors. Women who participated in the program reported higher levels of body appreciation and lower levels of disordered eating beh...
A pilot study found a significant correlation between weight loss and reduced hot flashes in overweight or obese women. The study's findings suggest that behavioral weight loss may be an effective method for managing menopausal hot flashes, promoting healthy aging and overall well-being.
A new study reveals that users tend to be swayed by recent activity of their friends on Facebook, rather than relying on best-seller lists. The researchers developed a mathematical model to capture the dynamics at play, finding that the 'copycat' tendency plays a strong role in online behavior.
Research found that early-life experiences can alter behavioral responses to pain and affect the next generation. Female sheep who had their tails docked or experienced mild simulated infections showed more pain-related behavior when giving birth.
A study of Chinese preschoolers found associations between moderately elevated blood lead concentrations and teacher-reported behavioral problems. The study suggests that further examination is needed to clarify the biological effects of environmental lead exposure on children's behavior.
Researchers at The Miriam Hospital developed an app to reduce sedentary behavior in obese individuals. The app, B-Mobile, uses automated prompts and feedback to encourage short breaks and increase physical activity, resulting in reduced sedentary time and improved health outcomes.
A recent study published in Cancer suggests that family dysfunction is a strong predictor of emotional problems in children of cancer patients. The research analyzed data from 235 families and found that general family dysfunction was the best predictor of emotional and behavioral symptoms in children.
A study found that stories praising honesty, such as the tale of George Washington, inspire children to tell the truth. In contrast, cautionary tales like 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' had no effect on honest behavior.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine found that an almost century-old drug approved for treating sleeping sickness also restores normal cellular signaling in a mouse model of autism, reversing symptoms of the neurological disorder in animals.
Researchers found a surprising regularity in human behavior using quantum theory to analyze survey questions. The study identified 'quantum question equality,' where people switch their responses systematically when the order of questions is reversed.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that rats were willing to wait longer for certain flavors, indicating individual preferences. The study suggests that regret is a fundamental cognitive process shared among mammals.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed for the first time that stimulation of the ventral tegmental area can change behavior in primates. The study found that activation of the brain's reward system, mediated by dopamine, can induce changes in visual preference and motivation.
A school-based intervention aimed at increasing physical activity, reducing sedentary behavior, and improving fruit and vegetable consumption among children showed no significant effect. However, the program did reduce weekend screen time and snack consumption in children.
A NYU study finds that a program reducing behavior problems improves math and reading skills among low-income kindergartners. The INSIGHTS intervention, which addresses social-emotional development, is shown to enhance learning outcomes and decrease behavioral issues.
Researchers developed a new mouse model to study the behavioral damage caused by repeated blows to the head. The study shows that mice with mild TBI develop similar behavioral problems as humans with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), including difficulty sleeping, memory issues, depression, and poor judgment.
Amita Sehgal's team discovered a circuit in fruit flies that controls their daily behavior, with corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) playing a key role. The research provides new insight into basic brain function and could inform studies on human sleep and circadian rhythms.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have identified a key brain pathway linking emotional behavior to survival circuits, revealing potential therapeutic targets for anxiety and phobias. The study highlights the cerebellum's role in fear response and suggests its involvement in managing dysregulated emotional states.
A team from the University of Pennsylvania used a computer-assisted approach to identify and rank candidate clock components, leading to the discovery of a new core clock gene named CHRONO. CHRONO physically interacts with known clock proteins and modulates daily rhythms in cells.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found a critical link between sleep disruption in early life and adult courtship behavior in fruit flies. The team discovered that sleep deprivation affects dopamine production, leading to impaired development of courtship circuits and altered mating behavior.
A new study published in Developmental Psychology found that mothers' conversations with their children help them understand moral missteps and develop empathy. The study showed that these conversations have a significant impact on children's understanding of themselves as moral people, capable of both good and harm.
Research by Timothy Church at Washington State University found that extroverted behavior leads to more positive feelings and upbeat behavior in people from diverse cultural backgrounds. The study also showed that individuals feel more extroverted when given the freedom to choose their own behavior.
Researchers have identified the basal ganglia as a key brain region involved in vocal learning and variability across species. By studying songbirds, they found that this area is responsible for generating variability to aid in learning and performance.
The BRAIN Initiative aims to map all cell types in the brain, develop methods for large-scale recordings of neuronal activity, and advance computational methods to understand patterned neural activity. The ultimate goal is to shed light on disease processes and suggest new therapeutic approaches.
A new study by University of Illinois researchers finds that obese children are slower to recognize and correct errors, affecting brain activity. Healthy-weight children outperform their obese peers in this critical cognitive task, highlighting the physiological differences between weight status and brain function.
Researchers found that individuals with high 'justice sensitivity' are driven by cognitive reasoning rather than emotion when evaluating morally good or bad behavior. This suggests that the search for justice is fueled by analysis and mental calculation rather than sentimental motivations.
Research from Oregon State University reveals two distinct pathways for the connection between religion, spirituality, and health. Formal religious affiliation and service attendance are linked to better health habits, while meditation and private prayer regulate emotions and physiological effects.
Research published in Psychological Science suggests that unconscious associations may be more accurate than conscious thought in detecting deceit. Participants were only able to detect liars 43% of the time and truth-tellers 48% of the time in a mock-crime interview scenario.
A randomized trial found that integrating brief behavioral and mental health programs in pediatric practices improved access to care, participation, and treatment completion. Pediatricians who received training reported increased confidence and efficacy in treating ADHD.