Research on why people act as they do. Covers self-processing across primates, substance use, weight-loss behavior, and nicotine seeking.
A study by University of Cincinnati researchers found that anxiety sensitivity significantly impeded the quitting efforts of smokers with asthma. Participants with higher anxiety sensitivity reported increased self-control as a motivation to quit, but also experienced temporary increases in anxiety symptoms, making it harder for them t...
A questionnaire called the Relaxation Sensitivity Index (RSI) has been developed to examine why certain individuals fear relaxation. The RSI found that high levels of anxiety sensitivity are often linked to relaxation-induced anxiety, suggesting that deviations from normal functioning can be stressful for some people.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that introducing a novel word for an impending event enhances infants' tendency to imitate unconventional behavior. Infants as young as 14 months old coordinate their insights about human behavior and language to discover which actions are worth imitating.
Guang Yue's 2-year NIH grant aims to investigate the impact of chemotherapy on white matter integrity and corresponding neurophysiological function. The study will explore structural changes in the corpus callosum and corticospinal tract, shedding light on the underlying causes of neurological side effects.
Scientists have found that mice can change the pitch of their ultrasonic vocalizations to match others in social exposure. This limited form of vocal learning suggests a capacity for learning not previously known in mice.
Researchers show that newborn mice learn to suckle their mother's milk through a learned response built on learning her unique combination of smells. The study, published in Current Biology, finds that a pheromone is not involved in initiating suckling in mice.
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Communication Programs has received a five-year, $108 million grant from the US Agency for International Development. The project aims to build the capacity of local organizations in developing countries to design and implement effective health communication projects.
Researchers found that newborn mice depend on the specific blend of scents emitted by their mothers, which is distinct from earlier studies in rabbits. This discovery suggests that innate behaviors like suckling may involve learning rather than hardwired instincts.
The tool analyzes a person's online reading habits for a month, calculating the political bias in their behavior. It then suggests sites that represent a different point of view and continues to monitor reading behavior, offering feedback.
Artificially intelligent game bots created by the University of Texas at Austin have won the BotPrize competition, scoring a humanness rating of 52% compared to humans' average of 40%. The winning bots use a two-pronged approach to mimic human behavior, combining direct modeling with neuroevolution.
Researchers have observed dominance relationships among adolescent male chimpanzees in the Ngogo community, a large chimp community in Uganda with over 150 members. The study found that pant grunts are used to calm hostilities and establish dominance hierarchies, which is rare for this age group.
Researchers found that chronic stress predicts greater increases in body weight over time in both black and white girls. However, the negative effect of chronic stress on black girls' weight may explain racial disparities in obesity levels. The study suggests stress may play a role in the obesity epidemic and racial disparities.
The article explores how terrorist attacks can lead to an increase in fatal traffic accidents, particularly in regions with well-developed infrastructure that encourages driving. The study found that the New York area saw a significant increase in car traffic after the 9/11 attacks, while other states did not experience the same surge.
A new study finds that post-menopausal women's eating behaviors associated with short-term weight loss are not effective or sustainable for the long term. Strategies such as increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and decreasing meat and cheese intake, may improve long-term weight loss outcomes.
A new UCLA study identifies uniquely human patterns of gene activity in the brain that could deepen our understanding of human evolution and brain diseases. The research suggests that complex signaling pathways and enhanced cellular function in the frontal lobe created a bridge to human evolution, enabling higher rates of learning.
Dr. Bruce L. Miller will receive the 2012 Gene D. Cohen Research Award for his work on dementia diagnosis and treatment. The award recognizes his seminal contributions to understanding the relationship between brain function and behavior in older adults.
Research shows that losing just 20 pounds can provide a decade's worth of health benefits, including reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes and improved sleep apnea. Modest weight loss has also been linked to long-term reductions in hypertension, quality of life, and decline in mobility.
Research published in PLOS ONE found that autistic children who received a pet scored higher in 'offering to share' and 'offering comfort' categories after the pet arrived compared to before. Participants who had lived with pets since birth showed weaker relationships with their pets.
Scientists have successfully controlled monkey behavior using optogenetics by activating specific brain cells with blue light. This breakthrough could lead to the development of therapeutic treatments for neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and depression.
Research suggests that dualist philosophy can lead to reckless attitudes towards health and exercise, and a preference for unhealthy diet. People primed with dualist beliefs also reported stronger mind-body separation, viewing bodies as disposable vessels.
Researchers found that people perform worse when trying to do two visual tasks at once, yet rate their performance higher. Eye-tracking technology showed that people's gaze moved around more and spent less time fixated on any one task. The study suggests teaching media literacy to young people before they start driving.
A new study finds that mice have a unique neural circuitry for processing instinctually important smells like those associated with predators. The TAAR-expressing neurons form an independent olfactory subsystem, distinct from the more common olfactory receptor neurons, which detect a broader range of smells.
A study of 192 families found that fathers' involvement in early interactions with their infants is linked to fewer behavioral problems later on. The researchers suggest that interventions aimed at improving parent-child interaction may be beneficial to the child's behavior, and highlight the importance of early parental engagement.
Research finds that while fathers may be more involved with their children through sports, they still tend to do the lion's share of household tasks and childcare responsibilities. The study, conducted by UCLA sociologists, suggests that traditional gender roles persist in middle-class families.
Researchers identified innovative solutions to increase access to nutritious food among low-income groups. The study, published in JNEB, proposes catering trucks as a strategy to promote healthful eating in low-wage worksites.
Research suggests that sleep behavior affects body weight control and that sleep loss has ramifications for how many calories we consume and burn off through physical activity. Sleep deprivation increases hunger and reduces physical activity, leading to weight gain and increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Research suggests that adding words related to health and weight on posters, menus, or recipe cards can stimulate healthy food choices among dieters and overweight individuals. This technique has great potential as an intervention to help weight control, as it is unobtrusive, easy to implement, and low in cost.
A meta-analysis of self-determination theory research in health contexts found that respect for patients' autonomy is positively related to feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Satisfaction of psychological needs was also linked to improved patient well-being, including both mental and physical health.
Research in rats and humans found that multiple pieces of food elicit greater satiation than a single piece, with increased portion sizes leading to increased intake. Cutting food into smaller pieces can make it more satiating, benefiting dieters seeking portion control.
A groundbreaking study in evolutionary analysis in law reveals that chimpanzees, like humans, show the endowment effect, with behavior influenced by an object's immediate situational usefulness. The research provides evidence that this psychological trait likely evolved prior to the human split from other species.
Researchers found that rapamycin enhances learning and memory in young mice and improves these faculties in old mice, negating the normal decline with age. The drug also lowered anxiety and depressive-like behavior in the rodents.
Researchers identified a brain pathway imbalance linked to addictive behavior, which may also underlie less severe compulsive behaviors. The study's findings could lead to better understanding and monitoring of various compulsive behaviors.
Researchers discovered that the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) optimizes behavioral responses by predicting task difficulty. The study used a complex task to evaluate dACC function, revealing that the structure speeds up responses when difficulty levels are constant but slows down response time when faced with changing demands.
Research suggests that high anxiety can make male California mice poor fathers, while stress hormone vasopressin may influence paternal behavior. The study found that anxious males were less likely to approach a pup and had higher levels of vasopressin in their brains.
Researchers found that direct reciprocity alone is insufficient for high levels of cooperation, emphasizing the need for population structure. Repetition can also boost cooperation when individuals interact with similar types, but excessive repetition can harm it.
Research highlights suggestion's wide-ranging impact on human memory, learning, and behavior. The 'response expectancies' phenomenon explains how anticipating outcomes influences thoughts and actions.
The new web-based smoking cessation program, StopAdvisor, offers expert advice to help smokers prepare for and overcome the challenges of quitting. The platform uses a combination of interactive menus and personalized sessions to support users in their journey to quit smoking.
Researchers identified PERK as a crucial protein for maintaining behavioral flexibility, allowing us to adjust behaviors in response to changing circumstances. The study's findings have implications for addressing neurological disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
A new study suggests that tailored advertising campaigns can be more effective when targeting specific personality traits, rather than just demographic groups. By highlighting motivational concerns associated with each trait, advertisements can be designed to resonate with individual consumers and increase their persuasive appeal.
Scientists at Queen Mary University of London used zebrafish to study psychiatric disorders, finding they can modify their behaviour in response to changing conditions. The research suggests zebrafish may be useful in studying the cause and prognosis of disorders related to impulse control.
A mouse model showed that GLO1 activity stimulates GABAA receptors, promoting anxious behavior. Inhibition of GLO1 reduces anxious behavior, suggesting it as a potential novel therapeutic target for anxiety disorders and other CNS diseases.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania discovered a mechanism involving dopamine that switches fruit fly behavior from diurnal to nocturnal, parallelled by human sundown syndrome. The team found that increased night-time activity is associated with elevated dopamine signaling in flies.
Researchers have developed a new technique to measure brain activity during behavior in zebrafish with unprecedented resolution. The technique allows for the simultaneous measurement of up to 2,000 neurons, providing insights into how brain regions work together to control behavior.
New research found post-term children are almost twice as likely as term-born children to have behavioural and emotional problems, including ADHD. A U-shaped association was discovered between gestational age at birth and behavioural problems in early childhood.
A new study found that excessive daytime sleepiness in children is a significant contributor to learning, attention and behavioral problems, despite adequate nighttime sleep. Obesity, symptoms of inattention, depression and anxiety, asthma, and parent-reported trouble falling asleep are all linked to EDS.
A recent study published in Environment and Behavior found that placing fruit and vegetable bowls near participants increases the likelihood of eating them. However, this effect is more pronounced for fruits due to their natural sweetness, which stimulates brain reward regions.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology developed a device called Flywalk that measures insect responses to odor signals, revealing specific brain regions for processing attractants and deterrents. The study shows that flies process attractive odors differently depending on gender and reproductive status.
A study using two-photon microscopy has mapped neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex of mice during learning, revealing that only selected aspects of behavior change neural representation. The research also found that sensory and motor representations are spatially intermingled in the rodent brain.
Researchers are developing a new traffic modeling system that incorporates individual human behavior traits to forecast transportation needs. The VASTO model simulates habitual patterns with real-time reactions and will allow planners to see what would happen if traffic is rerouted or construction is proposed.
A new study will test a professional development program called CARE for Teachers, which aims to enhance teachers' social and emotional competence. The program provides emotion skills instruction, mindfulness practices, and caring techniques to promote empathy and compassion in the classroom.
Researchers found that flies didn't exhibit expected siestas during the day and instead became active at dawn. The study suggests that flies can react to changing light levels without anticipating them, challenging previous assumptions about genetic determinants of behavior.
The research team aims to create automated program-synthesis tools for various applications, including robotic tasks. The goal is to help human programmers write code faster and with fewer errors by leveraging intelligent software agents.
Computer scientist Hava Siegelmann has developed an adaptable computational system that learns and evolves, using input from the environment in a way much more like our brains do. The Super-Turing model yields exponentially greater repertoire of behaviors than classical computers.
Researchers found that humans can only monitor up to three strategies while making decisions, and creativity is favored over reliable options. The frontal lobe plays a crucial role in this process, with individual differences in performance linked to variations in creative ability.
A recent study suggests that young infants' imitation is not driven by rational thinking, but rather by distractions. In a replication study, researchers found that infants imitated an unusual action only if it was not attributed to external constraints.
Modern nature conservation faces challenges in governing diverse ecosystems, with threats from human activities like forestry, agriculture, and fisheries. The study emphasizes the need for efficient governance to address these issues and halt biodiversity deterioration.
Researchers discovered the genetic basis of biological rhythms controlling sleep, wakefulness and hormone levels. Their work has potential to improve treatments for diseases controlled by circadian cycles.
Researchers have found that both humans and rats make more accurate decisions when presented with combined multisensory information, suggesting a statistically optimal combination of sensory stimuli. This discovery could provide insights into how the brain processes multisensory information in individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers observed chimpanzee groups and found that high-ranking individuals intervene in conflicts to ensure group stability. This behavior is driven by a community concern interest, with more parties to a conflict resulting in greater policing.
A recent study by USC Marshall professor Nathanael Fast and colleagues found that unconstrained power can lead to overconfident decision-making. In experiments, participants who felt powerful made riskier bets, losing money, whereas those who didn't feel powerful were less risky and did not lose.