Research on why people act as they do. Covers self-processing across primates, substance use, weight-loss behavior, and nicotine seeking.
A study by Lee A. Thompson and colleagues found that genetic influence was greater on reading than math, with shared environment influencing math more so than reading. The researchers analyzed the data from twins to determine the similarities in genetic and environmental influence between ADHD symptoms and academic ability.
A new study from Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that breastfeeding mothers respond more emotionally to their infants' cries, with greater activity in caregiving brain regions. This is the first paper to examine neurobiological mechanisms linked to breastfeeding and maternal behaviors.
Researchers have identified a small molecule compound that specifically inhibits TrkB action, showing potent behavioral effects in mice and promising antidepressant and anti-anxiety activity in humans. The discovery could lead to the development of a new class of psychiatric drugs for depression treatment.
A new Purdue University study reveals that people who experience discrimination are more likely to gain weight and develop obesity-related health issues. The research found that males tend to be more affected by discrimination than females, with a higher increase in waist circumference over time.
A study found that parents' pain catastrophizing scores predict their adult children's results, regardless of actual pain levels. This suggests that families may develop a specific cognitive style of dealing with pain. The researchers assessed 285 participants, including 100 patients with chronic pain and their adult children.
A recent study published in Ethology found that people with bloodshot eyes are perceived as sadder, unhealthier, and less attractive than those with untinted eye whites. The research tested 208 volunteers and showed that red eyes trigger perceptions of discomfort and affect how we perceive someone's emotional and biological state.
A University of Alberta study found that warning labels on junk food are more effective in deterring overweight consumers from making unhealthy purchases. The study showed that shoppers with high body mass index were deterred only by the warning label, indicating that price alone is not enough to change behavior.
A recent study by University of Missouri experts found that stepchildren build positive relationships with stepparents based on their evaluations of the stepparents' behaviors and treatment. Children also develop relationships influenced by biological parents and other family members.
Researchers discovered a molecular switch that regulates protein behavior, expanding biomarker possibilities for diagnosing and tracking mental illnesses. The study found a key modification of the Disrupted In Schizophrenia gene (DISC1) governs its functions in new neuron production and neural migration.
A new study in flies reveals that the sense of smell plays a crucial role in controlling appetite. When flies are starved for hours, their insulin levels drop dramatically, increasing the sensitivity of odor-sensitive neurons.
Stepchildren build positive or negative relationships with stepparents based on their evaluations of stepparents' behaviors and overall family situation. Researchers identified six patterns of step-relationship development from stepchildren's perspectives.
Researchers discovered a unique brain development pattern in children with Tourette syndrome, which could lead to new treatment methods through behavioural therapy. The study suggests an alternative to drug-based therapies, offering hope for young people struggling with the condition.
The Behavior Breakthroughs app uses game-based technology to teach ABA skills and techniques for managing behavior. Developed by Southwest Research Institute, it provides a practical guide for parents and caregivers based on sound science and expert advice.
A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that the circadian system contributes to daily patterns of vasovagal syncope, a common type of fainting. The vulnerability to presyncope peaks at specific times between 10:30 PM and 10:30 AM, with the highest risk occurring at 4:30 AM.
Researchers discovered that people who are motivated to be dominant gaze longer at angry faces and shorter at happy faces. The study suggests that engaging in gaze contests is an automatic response for those with a dominance motive.
A study by Rimma Teper and colleagues found that people's predicted moral actions don't always align with their actual behavior. The researchers discovered that emotions play a crucial role in driving moral decisions, particularly when individuals are contemplating their actions rather than facing the consequences of those actions.
A review of Harvey Cushing's notes from the early 20th century has uncovered copious documentation of his own surgical mishaps and suggestions for preventing them. This open acknowledgment of errors may have contributed to groundbreaking medical advancements during Cushing's era, with similar benefits possible today.
Researchers at Iowa State University found that innocent suspects may confess to a crime to relieve short-term distress and avoid long-term consequences. In two experiments, participants shifted their admissions to avoid immediate questions, even knowing it increased the likelihood of future consequences.
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have identified a gene that governs how neurons form new connections. Without this gene, mice showed difficulty learning and didn't display typical memory ability. The study provides clues to memory and learning, potentially offering opportunities for early intervention after birth.
A recent study challenges the long-held assumption that early humans were significantly different from modern humans. Archaeologist John Shea found no single behavioral revolution in human evolution, but rather wide variability in toolmaking strategies over time. This research has significant implications for understanding human behavi...
Researchers Anatoly Kolomeisky and Alexey Akimov decoded the behavior of molecular whirligigs attached to a gold surface through simulations. Their findings could lead to new materials in nanoscale machines, including radio filters with finely tuned signals.
A new study published in Cortex found that the orbitofrontal cortex plays a central role in an event monitoring system, which allows us to adapt to unexpected events. The brain's response to anticipated and unexpected outcomes is influenced by the potential harm of the outcome.
Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine identified defects in two signaling pathways, Wnt and PS-1, associated with Lesch-Nyhan Disease. These findings also suggest common mechanisms for cognitive and behavioral defects in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Researchers Jacek Debiec and Regina Sullivan are studying neural circuits to understand how fear is passed from mother to offspring in rats. This research aims to develop early therapeutic remedies for anxiety disorders related to trauma.
A recent study by Kurt A. Carlson and Jacqueline M. Conard discovered that the first letter of one's childhood surname influences consumer behavior, with individuals having late alphabet surnames responding faster to purchasing opportunities, whereas those with early alphabet surnames tend to wait in line.
A study found that a behavioral training program significantly reduced incontinence episodes in men with persisting symptoms after radical prostatectomy. The program included pelvic floor muscle training, bladder control strategies, and fluid management, yielding a 55% reduction in incontinence episodes at 8 weeks.
A long-term study of 15 body dysmorphic disorder sufferers found a high recovery rate of 76% and low recurrence rate of 14%, with some patients recovering within two years and others taking five years or more. The study suggests that BDD is not always debilitating, with a third of participants working full-time.
Researchers found that sniffing women's emotional tears reduces men's sexual arousal and decreases testosterone levels, but has no impact on emotional responses or empathy. The study uses fMRI scans to reveal brain activity changes in response to tear exposure.
Healthy cats display stress-related sickness behaviors such as vomiting and refusing food in response to changes in their environment. Researchers found that even healthy cats exhibited similar levels of sickness behaviors as chronically ill cats when their routines were disrupted.
A new study on a woman without an amygdala, a key structure in generating fear reactions, reveals that humans also lack this function. Despite encountering traumatic events, she experiences little to no fear, while still feeling other emotions like happiness and sadness.
A new study analyzes student narratives to understand how future physicians acquire knowledge of respectful professional behavior. The results show that disrespect can lead to loss of trust and negative emotions, while respect is associated with satisfaction and positive emotion.
A new study finds that birth light cycles significantly impact the development of biological clocks in mice, which may explain why people born in winter months are at a higher risk of certain neurological disorders. The experiment reveals that even after weaning, biological clocks remain affected by the initial light cycle.
Researchers found that the brain uses different 'maps' to plan movements, depending on whether they are visually defined or performed in darkness. This discovery has important applications for robotics and developing machines to help paraplegics.
Advanced riders with formal training demonstrated better road positioning, hazard perception, and progress through bends compared to novice and experienced riders without training. The study suggests that formal advanced training can improve safety on the roads.
Karl Deisseroth receives $10,000 HFSP Nakasone Award for his groundbreaking research on optogenetics, a technique that uses light to manipulate neuronal activity.
A study by Penn State researchers found that gastric bypass surgery alters the brain's response to sweet tastes in obese rats, reducing their preference for high-sugar foods. The surgery also improves insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, suggesting potential benefits for human patients with obesity-related diabetes.
Researchers at MU found that celebrity health stories can have a positive impact on consumers, with readers considering context and weighing moral implications before judging a behavior. The study suggests that experienced consumers are more likely to respond strongly to health messages from celebrities.
A study of postmenopausal women found that engaging in a healthy lifestyle reduces breast cancer risk for those with and without a family history. Women who adhered to regular physical activity, maintained a healthy weight, and drank less alcohol had lower rates of invasive breast cancer.
Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found no increased risk of socioemotional difficulties or cognitive deficits at 5 years of age for children born to mothers who light drank during pregnancy. Children born to light drinkers were 30% less likely to have behavioral problems than those whose mums had a...
Developing language skills is crucial for boys to regulate their emotions and behavior, according to a Michigan State University study. Boys with strong vocabulary can exhibit dramatic improvements in self-regulation, comparable to girls with similar skills.
UT researcher Francisco Úbeda and Andy Gardner found that genomic imprinting affects children's behavior, with paternal genes promoting altruism and maternal genes encouraging self-interest. This discovery has implications for understanding neurological disorders like autism and psychosis.
A study conducted by a joint team of researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found significant disparities in skin cancer knowledge among male and female medical students in Florida. The study revealed that men had lower knowledge levels, less appreciation for sun protec...
A new study by Carnegie Mellon researchers found that doctors rationalize accepting gifts from pharmaceutical companies as a form of reward for their educational sacrifices. This rationalization increased their willingness to accept gifts, with the most significant impact when physicians were reminded of their medical training burdens.
A new computer system, based on a model of the human brain's visual processing, accurately identifies mouse behaviors in videos, reducing tedious data logging tasks. The open-source software is available for free and can be easily trained to work with other lab animals, increasing productivity in behavioral research.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that humans make decisions based on perceived structure in the world, leading to irrational behavior. The study shows how people can adapt to new information and change their decision-making strategies when presented with correct world models.
Researchers found that human behavior adapts to varying levels of uncertainty, trading off between input and output. This study demonstrates the existence of input-output trade-offs in human information processing.
Research suggests that reducing conflict is not enough to create a positive sibling relationship. Parents should focus on encouraging positive interactions, such as scheduling family activities and teaching problem-solving skills. By doing so, they can help their children develop skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Research finds that entitled employees feel more frustrated with their work lives and are more likely to engage in abusive behaviors towards co-workers. Supervisor communication can increase frustration among entitled employees.
Research finds that overweight participants' brain activity is not linked to feelings of hunger when responding to food smells and tastes. Activation of the amygdala predicts weight gain in one year after scanning session.
Research reveals that our minds play a significant role in governing appetite and satiety. Expectations before eating and memories after eating influence how long meals stave off hunger. By manipulating these factors, portions can be controlled effectively, leading to potential weight loss benefits.
Research reveals soy phytoestrogens reduce weight gain and increase energy expenditure in post-menopausal rats, highlighting potential natural treatment for obesity. Further human studies are needed to confirm the long-term effects of a soy-rich diet on food intake.
Barrow scientist A.D. Bud Craig is leading the global conversation about the insula, a hidden lobe of the brain involved in virtually every human emotion and behavior. The latest research indicates that the insula plays a crucial role in conditions such as addiction, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
Researchers have discovered a strain of genetically defective mice that exhibit behavioral, hormonal, and neurochemical characteristics similar to those of human patients with drug-resistant depression. The mice respond to certain antidepressant drugs, offering a potential animal model for understanding human depression.
Scientists are developing a database of human emotion and behavior by collecting digital representations from actors. The USC CreativeIT Database will help predict patterns in human behavior, leading to potential applications in addiction treatment, customer care, and global security.
A study analyzing pro-eating disorder websites found that most were publicly accessible and featured calorie calculators. The sites also promoted eating disordered behaviors, such as extreme exercise and purging.
A recent study by Ken Schultz at the University of Alberta found that faster workers can positively influence their slower peers, leading to increased productivity. The researchers discovered that arranging workspace to facilitate mutual observation is key to this behavioral change.
Researchers found that mongooses in the wild carry out traditions passed down from adults to young through social learning. The study shows that foraging specializations are long-lived and can be transmitted from one generation to the next.
A UCLA study reveals that having friends who attend the same school is key to academic success, with students having more in-school friends scoring higher GPAs. The study found associations similar for boys and girls across all ethnic groups.
Researchers at Caltech identified two learning strategies associated with unique neural signatures, model-free and model-based learning. Model-free learning relies on trial-and-error comparisons, while model-based learning generates cognitive maps of environments, enabling adaptability in novel situations.
A study found that focusing on the negative effects of indoor tanning on appearance can reduce tanning behavior in young women, even those motivated by health concerns. The appearance-focused booklet also showed promise in reducing tanning behaviors among those with pathological motives for tanning.