Articles tagged with Human Behavior
A meta-analysis of 30 studies involving 3,501 women found that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based interventions significantly improved anxiety, depression, memory, and concentration difficulties. CBT was also the most cost-effective option for menopause management.
New research reveals women's cardiovascular disease risks differ by age, lifestyle factors, and mental health conditions. Studies show sedentary behavior increases risk of death from all causes, while preeclampsia is linked to diet, highlighting need for targeted prevention strategies.
A new study challenges traditional Western music theory by showing that participants prefer chords with slight deviations from mathematical ratios, and that unfamiliar instruments like the 'bonang' offer new patterns of consonance. The research encourages musicians to experiment with different instruments and explore new harmonies.
A new predictive model of prejudice has been developed by researchers at McGill University and the University of Toronto. The equation Prejudice = Threat – Contact + Identification shows that the model is currently around 50 to 60 per cent accurate, with potential for improvement over time.
Delta opioid receptors play a crucial role in anxiety development, and research reveals its therapeutic effects in animal models. KNT-127, a DOP agonist, reduces anxiety-like behavior by suppressing glutamatergic transmission, offering new potential for treating anxiety disorders.
Gossiping provides a social benefit by disseminating information about people's reputations, helping recipients connect with cooperative individuals while avoiding selfish ones. This allows gossipers to gain an evolutionary advantage as their actions influence others' behavior and encourage cooperation.
A new study found that high food responsiveness in early childhood is linked to a higher likelihood of experiencing eating disorder symptoms in adolescence. Children who exhibited high levels of hunger and desire for food were more likely to develop binge eating, emotional eating, and restrictive eating behaviors.
A recent study found that threatening anti-piracy messages increase piracy among men by 18%, while women respond positively and reduce their intentions by over 50%. The research suggests that tailored approaches are needed to combat digital piracy effectively.
A new study found that genetic factors contribute around 33% to the variation in levels of trust among individuals, while life circumstances such as age, health, and relationship status also increase trust. The research used twin studies to disentangle genetic and environmental influences on trust.
A study by the Universities of Göttingen and Bonn found that reducing effort required to opt out of nudged options and increasing transparency of the nudge significantly improved public support for these interventions. The perception of upholding free choice and effectiveness were key drivers of acceptance.
A global task force of scientists created an integrative framework to study emotions and moods, situating experiences within a single theoretical framework. This framework helps understand mental disorders like depression and anxiety, as well as decision-making and human behavior.
Parents who received nutritional epigenetics education reduced ultra-processed food consumption and increased whole organic foods intake, leading to improved behavior and cognition in their children. The education intervention also reduced heavy metal exposures and dietary deficits that disrupt gene function.
Christi Bergin's research focuses on improving prosocial behavior in classrooms and communities, leading to better student engagement, academic achievement, and relationships. Her approach aims to reduce teacher stress and burnout by promoting empathy and kindness among students.
Researchers created mathematical models to examine aspects of human behavior affecting pandemic trends. They found that risk perception and adherence to preventive measures are crucial in understanding why similar policies resulted in different outcomes.
Researchers from University of Bonn and IZA found that nearly half of people who denied climate change did not use motivated reasoning to justify their stance. Instead, they defined themselves by this belief, which sets them apart from other political groups.
A study by Florida Atlantic University found that immigrant bilingual Latina mothers retain cultural practices in play conversations with their children, particularly when speaking in their heritage language. The mothers' behavior changes when switching languages, extending to language use with young children.
Cornell researchers developed scripts to provide targets with a specific way to decline requests, finding that this intervention was more effective at increasing feelings of freedom to say 'no'. The study aimed to reduce pressure and resentment in responses to requests.
Researchers found that when participants had more self-compassionate responses to their lapse, they reported better mood and self-control over their eating and exercise behavior. Practicing self-compassion can help individuals become less demoralized by setbacks and quickly resume pursuing weight loss goals.
Archaeologists have discovered that early human diets in the Andes Mountains were composed of 80 percent plant matter and 20 percent meat. This finding updates our understanding of earliest forager economies and the pathway to agricultural economies in the region.
A new MIT study found that children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds show less sensitivity to rewarding experiences, which can impact motivation and attention. The research suggests that the brain adapts to its environment by dampening its response to rewards, making it less responsive in low SES environments.
A recent study by Tokyo University of Science has identified central emotions across languages through word association-based colexification networks. The researchers found that concepts like GOOD, WANT, BAD, and LOVE are associated with many other words representing emotions.
A study by NTU Singapore researchers found that older adults who exercise with their spouse achieve lower physical activity levels. Personalised fitness feedback from trackers increased physical activity in these individuals, suggesting it may be more effective to encourage older adults to exercise individually.
A recent study by Chung-Ang University reveals that lack of success in previous intervention attempts and negative emotions are significant barriers hindering bystander interventions. The research highlights the need for targeted education programs to address these barriers, particularly among university students and those experiencing...
Researchers from Staffordshire University developed a cognitive-behavioral intervention to help young athletes manage stress. The program taught them to view stress as an enhancing factor for performance, rather than a debilitating one, leading to improved wellbeing and performance.
A new study published in De Gruyter journal Humor found that men rate visual jokes higher than women, who prefer jokes involving political commentary or dynamics of close relationships. Both sexes enjoyed cartoons with complex romance themes.
Researchers found that people with noncommunicable diseases experienced greater psychological distress, increased alcohol consumption, and disrupted medical care. Those with NCDs were more likely to report anxiety, depression, and difficulty accessing non-COVID medical care.
Multicommunicating can enhance primary tasks and minimize delays when done correctly. Effective management of communication partners' expectations is key to avoiding distractions.
A new study found that participants in school-based gardening and food programs experience lasting impacts on their dietary behaviors, including increased enjoyment of fresh foods, confidence in making healthy decisions, and appreciation for the benefits of experiential education. The FRESHFARM FoodPrints program, which has been operat...
A Mount Sinai study found that human beliefs about nicotine can modulate brain activities in a way comparable to pharmacology, with potential implications for addiction treatment. The study used fMRI to explore the relationship between subjective beliefs and biological substrates in the human brain.
Tackling inequality is vital to mitigate climate change effectively, as wealthy individuals often have greater ability to reduce their carbon footprint. Deep-rooted inequalities restrict people's capacity to switch to lower-carbon behaviours, making it essential for policymakers to provide equal opportunities across all income brackets.
A new study by the University of Plymouth shows that at-risk individuals are more likely to engage with loot boxes than those without, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement around these features. The research found that loot box use is driven by beliefs such as 'I'll win in a minute', echoing the psychology seen in gambling.
In a study, participants in groups that could share information contributed more than those who couldn't. Sharing info about low contributors increased future contributions among exposed players.
Researchers found that pancreatic enzymatic replacement improved behavioral function in preschoolers with ASD, including reduced irritability, hyperactivity, and lethargy. The treatment had minimal side effects and demonstrated potential for addressing co-occurring maladaptive behaviors.
A large study found that sleep disturbances in preschool-aged children are strongly associated with both resolved and new cases of emotional and behavioral difficulties. Routine screening and treatment of sleep issues may help improve psychosocial well-being in this population.
A large international sample of single women aged 18-67 years was surveyed on their ideal partner characteristics, revealing links between age and preferences. Most attributes were consistently important across ages, but higher age correlated with a preference for confident partners and greater acceptance of younger partners.
A cross-disciplinary study from the University of Cambridge reveals that a drought in southern California in the mid-1970s led to the explosive rise of professional skateboarding culture. The authors argue that small environmental changes can have profound effects on human behavior, stimulating cultural and technical innovation.
A study from the University of Tokyo found that the World Health Organization's 24-hour recall method overestimates exclusive breastfeeding by six times. The researchers suggest that in-hospital breastfeeding support and guidance are crucial for increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates. To improve breastfeeding outcomes, experts recomm...
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that 90% of pregnant women in high-income countries lack key vitamins necessary for healthy pregnancies and fetal development. The situation is expected to worsen as more people adopt plant-based diets, leading to increased risk of nutrient deficiencies.
Eating fatty foods during stressful periods can reduce brain oxygenation and cause poorer vascular function in adults. Consuming low-fat food and drinks may help mitigate this effect.
A new study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine shows that dopamine release plays a crucial role in encoding reward and punishment prediction errors, allowing the brain to adjust its behavior. Dopamine not only signals positive experiences but also optimally encodes negative outcomes.
A recent study published in Nature Communications has identified a key brain molecule responsible for triggering overconsumption of comfort foods after stressful events. The lateral hypothalamic proenkephalin neuron plays a crucial role in driving threat-induced eating associated with negative emotional states.
Smartphone usage patterns differ substantially between urban and rural populations, with urban users favoring social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. In contrast, rural users tend to use Facebook and Snapchat, suggesting that environment influences smartphone behavior.
A Virginia Tech scientist has identified a molecule in the hypothalamus region of the brain linked to stress-induced emotional overeating. The discovery may lead to new therapy targets for alleviating emotionally triggered eating.
A study found that workaholics have a consistently negative mood throughout the day, regardless of workload. Women are more vulnerable to workaholism due to role conflict and cultural expectations.
Researchers developed a new diagnostic tool to identify and treat Hikikomori, a condition characterized by prolonged physical isolation or social withdrawal. The Hikikomori Diagnostic Evaluation (HiDE) assesses the severity of social withdrawal, providing a practical guide for clinicians.
A computer simulation by Nagoya University researchers found that human behavior, such as lockdowns and isolation measures, influenced the evolution of new COVID-19 strains. The study discovered that SARS-CoV-2 variants with higher peak viral loads were more successful at spreading, but also had shorter infection durations.
A paper by Anthony Chemero explains how AI thinking differs from human thinking, highlighting the limitations of large language models trained on biased data. Despite generating impressive text, these models can make up facts and produce biased outputs due to their lack of embodiment and understanding of context.
Researchers argue for a 'human-centered AI' approach to co-creativity, balancing automation with human control. They emphasize the need for interdisciplinary research on creativity, ethics, and intellectual property rights in human-AI collaboration.
Scientists at PNNL introduced a new way to evaluate AI system recommendations by incorporating human experts' insights. Human expertise improved the accuracy of predictions and boosted confidence scores, indicating better decision-making capabilities for machine learning systems.
A recent study at Eötvös Loránd University found that 'smarter' dogs process information similarly to humans, with object appearance mattering as much as its location. The researchers measured spatial bias in 82 dogs and found that those with better cognitive performance linked objects more easily to places.
Researchers characterized changes in cognitive behaviors, neuronal morphology and gene expression in a tauopathy mouse model. The study found significant decreases in dendritic arborization and synaptic gene upregulation over time.
A study by Dr Lixin Ren found that extracurricular activities have a limited impact on math skills in preschool children, with effects dependent on behavioral regulation and approaches to learning. For children with poor self-regulation skills, structured activities can improve early math skills.
Researchers aim to optimize digital weight-loss programs for rural populations by adding human components, such as weekly group video sessions and individual coaching calls. The goal is to help residents manage their weight and fight the obesity epidemic in areas with limited access to in-person programs.
A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that the US Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision led to an increase in public support for abortion rights, with 2.4 percentage points more respondents believing abortion should be legal for women who choose to have one.
A longitudinal study found that nine-to-10-year-old children who drink daily caffeinated soda are twice as likely to try alcohol within a year. Daily caffeine intake is associated with low working memory and high impulsivity, recognized risk factors for substance use disorders.
A new study finds that individuals with PTSD symptoms exhibit a blunted responsiveness to cortisol, leading to impaired fear extinction and other biological alterations. Researchers used a genetically selected rat model to demonstrate the causal link between low glucocorticoid levels and PTSD vulnerability.
A new study found that social media platforms restrict user-generated content and advertising related to illegal muscle-building drugs but offer few restrictions on legal dietary supplements. This has raised concerns about the potential negative effects of these products on young people's health and behavior.
Researchers found that fathers' reported symptoms of anxiety and depression were not associated with worse behavioral and cognitive outcomes in their children. In contrast, slightly higher levels of depressive symptoms among fathers during pregnancy were linked to fewer behavioral difficulties in their child at six to eight years old.
Researchers found that all tested languages make the same spatial distinctions using words like 'this' or 'that', based on reachability. This suggests a universal action constraint underlying demonstrative language across cultures.
Children diagnosed with ADHD at a young age are just as likely to retain the diagnosis in adulthood as their older peers, according to a new study. The research, which examined data from over 6,500 patients globally, suggests that the youngest children in class are not more likely to lose the diagnosis over time.