Research on why people act as they do. Covers self-processing across primates, substance use, weight-loss behavior, and nicotine seeking.
A new study from Tel Aviv University finds that people's response to risk is driven by personal experience and simple strategies for coping in nature, rather than logical rationales or statistics. This behavior may not be well-suited for the modern world, where risks are more complex and unpredictable.
Researchers used data mining to identify subtle differences in movement between rats with ALS mutations and controls, predicting the onset of disease two months early. This novel approach may enable testing of therapies to delay or prevent disease.
A new study provides a mouse model that may lead to the development of new treatments for mood disorders associated with pregnancy. The research found that alterations in GABA neurotransmitter system and GABAA receptor sensitivity during pregnancy and postpartum are linked to depression-like behaviors.
Researchers discovered a mechanism in mouse brains that may explain why human mothers develop depression after childbirth. The study found that a GABA receptor subunit fluctuates during pregnancy and postpartum, impairing the brain's ability to adapt to hormone fluctuations.
A team of Oregon researchers discovered a computational mechanism in roundworms that enables them to find food and avoid poisons. The study used imaging and molecular tools to identify two chemosensory neurons that act like on/off switches, regulating behavior.
Researchers at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research have found a direct link between neural stem cell development and Autism. Mice lacking the myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) protein showed smaller brains, fewer nerve cells, and behaviors similar to those seen in humans with Rett Syndrome.
The NHS needs to revise its vision and focus on equity, availability, accessibility, and quality based on UN principles. A Technical Advisory Group, General Health Council, and annual assessment are proposed to strengthen the NHS.
Researchers found that humans prefer novel stimuli over familiar ones and associate novelty with activation of the ventral striatum, a region linked to reward anticipation. This suggests humans use novelty as a substitute for true choice uncertainty.
Research finds that people sometimes prioritize the greater good over their own interests, and poorly designed institutions can undermine this behavior. Examples include a study on day care center fines and blood donation rates., Experts argue that recognizing human altruism is crucial for designing effective policies and institutions.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that children can learn flexible behavior and make correct choices without realizing why, challenging traditional theories. The study used a computer game to test children's ability to choose objects based on shape or color in different contexts.
A new study reveals that fruitflies have four large heat-responsive neurons in their brain, which help them detect and avoid temperatures just above their preferred level. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms of neural circuits that drive animals to select a preferred temperature.
A study of 1,956 pre-schoolers found that tooth grinding during sleep was associated with worse pre-school adjustment, including social withdrawal and behavioral issues. Parents' reports of tooth grinding may be a sensitive indicator of bruxism in young children.
A study of 97 couples found that fathers are more involved in infant care when their wives provide active encouragement, regardless of their own beliefs or the quality of parenting. Encouragement from mothers can either foster or limit fatherly participation, with mothers acting as 'gatekeepers' to their involvement.
Researchers have created a genetically altered monkey model that replicates symptoms of Huntington's disease, allowing for a deeper understanding of the disease mechanisms. This breakthrough could lead to major advances in developing new treatments for neurological diseases.
Studies with non-human primates have significantly contributed to understanding the human brain, particularly in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The unique similarities between human and monkey brains enable researchers to study complex behaviors and develop new treatments.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that a nutrition education program resulted in a benefit-to-cost ratio of $9.59 per $1, indicating significant cost-effectiveness. The program improved quality-of-life outcomes worth over $49 million, suggesting a substantial investment in public health.
A sweeping analysis of 77 studies involving over 15,000 subjects found that media exposure to ultra-thin models significantly increased women's concerns about their bodies. The study suggests that the impact is growing stronger over time, contributing to health issues like low self-esteem and obesity.
Recent studies at George Mason University found pregnant women face judgment and obstacles when applying for jobs, particularly in traditionally masculine fields. They experience overt hostility and patronizing behavior, hindering their success.
Young songbirds babble before learning to sing, using two separate brain pathways for learning and production. Disabling these pathways reveals surprising similarities with human learning behaviors.
A recent study from University College London suggests that investors' emotional states play a significant role in the stock market's behavior. The researchers argue that 'emotional inflation' - the unchecked enthusiasm and wishful thinking that can lead to excessive risk-taking - is a major contributor to market crashes.
A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals that mice and humans exhibit similar behavioral patterns, with no differences in statistics between resting periods and activity durations. This discovery has implications for the development of new treatments for depression and challenges current models of human-specific disorders.
Researchers found that people can develop a general negative mood followed by a specific emotion after quick exposure to emotional stimuli. The study's results support the theory that humans should be able to detect specific emotion-evoking information automatically.
Mark Friedman, a leading researcher in eating behavior, has received a Guggenheim Fellowship to study the effects of diet on obesity. His work aims to elucidate the mechanisms driving diet-induced obesity, with a focus on the interaction between dietary fat and carbohydrate.
Research by George Mason University's Adam Winsler found that talking to themselves boosts preschool kids' performance on motor tasks. The study also showed that children with behavioral problems benefit from private speech, which can help them develop better communication skills.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that significant others generally play a positive and supportive role in diet changes, with some facilitating the change through their own dietary habits or providing motivation. However, these positive roles varied widely in terms of impact on changers' experie...
Researchers examined two emotion regulation strategies: reappraisal and suppression. Reappraisal reduced negative emotions and activated prefrontal cortex, while suppression increased amygdala activity. These findings suggest reappraisal as a more successful coping strategy.
A team of researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has successfully created an AI character in Second Life that can reason about its own beliefs and predict the behavior of human players. The 'Eddie' character, a 4-year-old child avatar, demonstrates reasoning abilities consistent with those of human children of the same age.
A long-term study has found mercury levels impacting common loons' health, reproductive success, and behavior. Loons with high mercury levels spend less time at nests and produce fewer young, while also experiencing sluggishness and flight issues.
Researchers found that chimpanzees activate the same brain region as humans when producing communicative signals, suggesting a shared neural basis for language. The study suggests that this common ancestor may have possessed a 'language-ready brain,' with tremendous plasticity allowing for development of complex communicative signals.
Researchers have explored the brains of flies to understand their ability to integrate sight and smell, finding that panoramic visual cues are essential for accurate odor tracking. The study suggests that odor signals strengthen visual reflexes, allowing flies to navigate complex environments with remarkable accuracy.
A study found that preschool children exposed to both World Trade Center attacks and another traumatic event had significantly more severe behavioral problems than those exposed only to one or neither. Young children may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse psychological consequences of trauma.
Scientists studied prairie voles' mating habits and nervous systems to understand their behavior. The research found that male 'wanderers' lack receptors for spatial memory, leading them to return to territories with high contact with females.
Researchers at Tufts University found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critical for mediating satiety in adult mice. Mice with deleted BDNF genes ate more and became heavier, highlighting the protein's role in energy balance.
Belief and disbelief activate different brain regions, including those linked to emotions and taste perceptions. Uncertainty triggers a unique response in the anterior cingulate cortex and caudate region.
Jay Rosenblatt, a renowned researcher at Rutgers University, has been awarded the Senior Investigator Award from the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology. His work on maternal behavior and learning early in life has had a lasting impact on the field of developmental psychobiology.
A Yale University study found that children follow adults' actions faithfully, even when they are unnecessary, leading to confusion and difficulties in learning. The research suggests that children's ability to imitate can actually hinder their learning process if they observe an adult performing inefficient behavior.
A study published in Genome Biology has identified genes associated with alcohol sensitivity in fruit flies. The research team found over 1000 genes that differ in expression between sensitive and resistant flies, including 23 human orthologs that could be linked to alcohol sensitivity in humans.
Children diagnosed with breathing disorders show improved sleep quality and reduced hyperactivity after tonsillectomy, according to a study. The surgery also correlates positively with improvements in cognitive function and ADHD symptoms.
Oxytocin levels in pregnant women predict the formation of an exclusive bond with their infants. Mothers with higher oxytocin levels report more bonding behaviors and are preoccupied with thoughts of their infant's well-being.
A five-year study will investigate patterns of interaction between parents and preschool children to better understand the effects of child maltreatment. The research seeks to identify relationship patterns underlying the severity and type of maltreatment, aiming to inform the development of more effective family therapies.
Researchers discovered specific neuronal subpopulations mediate distinct effects of THC, leading to potential therapeutic use for neuronal disorders. The study provides rationale for developing drugs that selectively activate CB1 in specific neuronal subpopulations.
Researchers at University at Buffalo develop automated system to track individuals' likelihood of committing a terrorist act based on biometrics and behavioral indicators. The system aims to identify perpetrators in real-time, providing a numerical score of malfeasance likelihood.
Florida State University researcher Amy Wetherby has received a four-year, $1.4M CDC grant to screen 16,000 North Florida children for early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study aims to identify prevalence at two ages in early childhood and inform early intervention efforts.
Scientists have identified three genes associated with dopamine functioning in the brain, predicting individual differences in learning behaviors. These genes affect implicit reward learning and change choice strategies after negative feedback. The study offers insights into the genetic basis for learning differences and potential impl...
A large-scale study of 2,889 older women found that poorer sleep is associated with worse physical function during the day. Women who slept less than six hours per night walked slower and took longer to complete daily activities. Maintaining good sleep hygiene is crucial for optimal daytime function in older adults.
Elinor Ostrom proposes a flexible framework for resource management, considering factors such as governance systems, resource users, and innate productivity. The framework aims to improve conservation strategies by working with local people and adapting to unpredictable human behavior.
A new study is providing highly successful parenting skills to parents with bipolar disorder, using the Triple P Positive Parenting Programme. The program has been shown to improve behavior in children and increase parental confidence, particularly for those experiencing instability of mood and behavior.
A new study by Harvard researchers found that non-human primates infer intentions based on rational action, not just surface-level appearances. The primates chose the most accessible food container in each scenario, demonstrating a human-like understanding of others' goals and actions.
Researchers discovered that mice without a key brain protein exhibited OCD-like behavior, including compulsive grooming and anxiety. Restoring the protein improved behaviors, suggesting a possible synaptic defect as the cause of OCD-like symptoms.
Researchers created OCD-like behaviors in mice using genetic engineering and reversed them with antidepressants and targeted a key brain circuit. The study suggests new strategies for treating the disorder by understanding the role of the SAPAP3 gene in glutamate-mediated communications.
Dr. Nancy Kopell received the John von Neumann Lecture for her groundbreaking work on coupled nonlinear oscillators and their application to various biological systems. Her research focuses on understanding rhythmic behavior in networks of neurons and its role in filtering and transforming input patterns.
Researchers found that 13-month-old infants could attribute mental content and exhibit puzzlement when caterpillars didn't follow expected behavior in animations. This suggests the presence of mental structures for predicting others' behavior from a young age.
Researchers at Tufts University have identified a specific population of glial cells required for controlling circadian behavior in Drosophila, suggesting an autonomous glial mechanism drives circadian rhythms. The study's findings have broad implications for understanding diseases affected by altered biological timing mechanisms.
A University of Iowa study shows that disrupting the acid sensing ion channel protein (ASIC1a) reduces innate fear behavior in mice. The findings suggest that this protein may be a critical component of brain systems underlying innate fear.
A University of Oregon research team has found that barn owls' exceptional spatial hearing abilities can help pinpoint problems in the human brain, including those related to hearing and behavior. The study used infrared monitoring to track changes in pupil dilation responses influenced by sound sources around an owl.
Studies reveal a gene-regulating protein that triggers coping mechanisms in mice exposed to inescapable stress, leading to reduced behavioral despair. The discovery provides an animal model for exploring how antidepressants work on the brain circuitry involved in stress response.
A study found that poor sleep hygiene habits in snoring children are associated with negative daytime behavior. The research showed strong correlations between sleep hygiene and externalizing behaviors, such as ADHD symptoms and hyperactivity.
A team of researchers discovered a receptor molecule for serotonin plays crucial roles in fear responses to ambiguous stimuli in mice. The hippocampus brain region is involved in processing and assessing value of stimuli, making it easier to interpret situations as threatening.
A study of nearly 2,000 7-year-old twin pairs suggests a strong genetic connection between hyperactivity and poor academic performance. The researchers found that common genetic factors influence both behaviors, possibly due to genes affecting attention span and classroom learning.
A team of researchers analyzed fruit fly behavior and found it to be non-randomly generated by the brain, suggesting a mechanism for free will in animals. This discovery could lead to the development of robots with spontaneous behavior and help combat human disorders related to compromised spontaneity.