Research on why people act as they do. Covers self-processing across primates, substance use, weight-loss behavior, and nicotine seeking.
A new study by Charles Sturt University in Australia found that exposure to pro-anorexia content on TikTok leads to decreased body image satisfaction and increased internalization of beauty standards. Women who spend more time on the app are also more likely to experience disordered eating behaviors.
A study published in Current Biology found that bouncing is the primary movement facilitating synchronization in dance, occurring independently of music and partner movements. Researchers identified two modes of synchrony: music-driven and partner-driven, with bouncing acting as a supramodal rhythm regulator.
A study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that prehistoric Europeans spent on small everyday expenses more often than large ones, consistent with modern Western economies. The researchers also discovered metal fragments circulated as money around 1,500 BC, supporting the idea of a market economy from an early stage.
A study by researchers at the University of Zurich found that LGBTIQ+ individuals and their cisgender heterosexual allies experienced higher stress levels during the 2021 Swiss national referendum on marriage equality. The campaign's negative impact was attenuated when individuals saw supportive statements from the 'yes' campaign.
Researchers warn that smart vapes with touch screens, animated displays, and built-in games can couple nicotine addiction with gaming disorder. The devices are user-friendly and attractive to youth, potentially broadening the market to include non-nicotine users.
A new study found that AI enhances creativity by boosting novelty and usefulness of stories, making them more enjoyable, well-written, and engaging. However, this comes at the expense of less varied content, as AI-assisted stories contain more similarities to each other.
By 16 months, toddlers use the left parietal cortex and both sides of the prefrontal cortex more extensively, enabling them to follow simple instructions and control impulses. The study found that brain changes occur despite no improvement in observable skills between 10 and 16 months.
A University of Maryland study reveals how the brain adapts to different listening situations, with the orbitofrontal cortex playing a central role. The findings may have implications for human health and well-being, particularly in conditions such as autism, dyslexia, or schizophrenia.
A study found that drivers who received weekly feedback on their phone use and a cash incentive of up to $50 used their phones less than those given no incentive or feedback. The intervention also led to a 21% decrease in handheld phone usage when drivers were told they would lose money if they engaged in phone use while driving.
A study found that giving children digital devices to manage tantrums fails to teach them how to regulate their emotions, instead leading to severe problems. Parents' reliance on digital devices can exacerbate existing emotion regulation issues, emphasizing the need for alternative methods such as coaching and emotional recognition.
The Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) has issued a position paper emphasizing the importance of emergency-related food and nutrition education before, during, and after disasters. The paper highlights challenges in accessing safe, nutritious foods and beverages in post-disaster situations, particularly among historica...
A UCLA Health study discovered that suvorexant, an insomnia medication, blocks brain receptors for hypocretin and prevents opioid addiction in mice. The drug maintains behavioral alertness at lower doses than those inducing sleep. Further studies are needed to determine its effectiveness in humans with opioid use disorder.
A recent study by Cornell University found that employees who were monitored by AI reported feeling less autonomy and had worse performance. In contrast, those who were monitored by humans perceived the monitoring as more supportive of their development.
Researchers found that dogs matched their emotional state with the content of human vocalizations, while pigs exhibited stress behaviors to unusual humming sounds. This suggests that domestication may have facilitated emotional contagion in dogs.
A recent study by D'Or Institute for Research and Education highlights the importance of cultural adaptation in behavioral interventions aimed at the population. Community engagement throughout the entire adaptation cycle is key to success, according to researchers.
Researchers analyzed live-streams of hurricanes and storms, finding that people in affected areas used streams to discuss official risk advice and show support to impacted regions. The study highlights the importance of understanding how new technologies influence hazard risk perception and community engagement.
Researchers tracked free-ranging Egyptian fruit bats and found they possess high cognitive abilities, including episodic memory, mental time travel, and delayed gratification. The study revealed that older bats can estimate time passed since their last visit to a tree and avoid those with stopped bearing fruit.
Researchers found that evoking feelings of gratitude in smokers decreases their craving for cigarettes and increases their likelihood of enrolling in a smoking cessation program. The study suggests that public health campaigns should consider inducing gratitude instead of negative emotions to promote effective smoking cessation.
Researchers found that patterns of neural activity in the hypothalamus predict performance in survival tasks, while associations with other brain regions were observed for hunting and escaping behaviors. The study provides new insights into how the human brain coordinates survival strategies.
A study published in Gut reveals that specific bacteria in the gut are involved in compulsive eating and obesity, with a beneficial bacterium called Blautia showing protective effects. The research also highlights the role of microRNAs in food addiction and suggests potential new treatments involving beneficial bacteria and dietary sup...
A new study by Annenberg Public Policy Center researchers finds that science-consistent beliefs about climate change's public health effects predict support for climate policies. The study controlled for belief in climate change's existence and cause, highlighting the importance of grounded knowledge in promoting climate action.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that the hippocampus is activated differently depending on whether goals are near-term or distant, suggesting it plays a key role in prioritization. The findings have significant implications for understanding psychiatric disorders like depression.
Scientists at UVA and Toyota Research Institute create language representations of driving behavior to enable robots to associate words with environmental interactions. This allows cars to provide guidance and adjust speed in challenging situations, improving safety and usability.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology reveals that people can infer hidden social preferences by observing how fast others make social decisions. By analyzing response times and options, participants were able to predict the other person's preference even if they didn't know what choices were made.
Researchers from SWPS University have re-examined the causes of obedience in the iconic Milgram experiment. The team found that physical proximity to the experimenter enhances subjects' willingness to obey, while proximity to the learner reduces it. This new understanding sheds light on the complex dynamics underlying human behavior.
Researchers at Yale University have uncovered how a specific region of the brain may cause feelings of paranoia. By analyzing data from both humans and monkeys, they found that lesions in the mediodorsal thalamus negatively affected behavior, leading to erratic switching behavior.
A study from Chalmers University of Technology found that the fear of being perceived as dirty overrides environmental awareness, leading to excessive washing. The researchers suggest encouraging people to use clothes more often and highlighting economic arguments against machine-washing.
A new study found that children who were more positively sensitive to their parents' praise when they were 3 years old had fewer behavioral and emotional problems when they were 5–7 years old. Childhood sensitivity to psychosocial influences was also found to predict mental health in middle childhood.
Researchers created a virtual rodent with an artificial brain that can move like a real rodent, simulating complex behaviors using biomechanical data from real rats. The model uses deep reinforcement learning and AI to predict neural activity across behaviors.
Middle-aged people exhibit reduced exploration when learning a novel maze environment compared to younger individuals. This difference is partially driven by changes in how they learn about the maze, including visiting more objects and pausing for longer periods.
A Swansea University-led project aims to address the concerning rise of skin cancer in Wales by exploring current perceptions of tanning among children, parents/carers, and educators. The results will support the development of a new sun-safety educational toolkit for the Welsh curriculum.
A new study reveals that praising and petting dogs enhances their learning success by reducing stress. Dogs who received a 'permissive' training style with praise and petting performed better than those in a 'controlling' style, which induced greater stress.
Researchers found that men exhibit grandiose narcissism, while women display vulnerable narcissism, which is associated with a greater risk of perpetrating intimate partner violence and bullying. Vulnerable narcissism in women can also lead to subtle but significant harm.
New research reveals a 'mobile giving gap' where consumers are less likely to donate when using smartphones than PCs. To overcome this, charities should focus on highlighting the needs of others in their appeals, creating a sense of empathy and other-focus.
Researchers found that restricting screens in bedrooms and at mealtimes has the biggest impact on reducing screen time and addictive behavior. Parents who model healthy practices at home also see a decrease in their child's screen use. Limiting and monitoring screen time can reduce usage by 1.29 hours and 0.83 hours, respectively.
A recent study discovered a critical brain signal mediated by dopamine and its 'D2' receptors that plays a crucial role in timing actions. The research team used novel imaging techniques to observe this activity before self-timed presses, finding a gradual increase in brain signals about half a second prior.
A literature review of neuroimaging studies found altered brain signaling in teenagers with internet addiction, affecting attention and emotional processing. The study suggests that internet addiction may impact development and well-being in adolescents.
A Swansea University study found that disengaged students are more likely to use AI tools like ChatGPT for assignments, highlighting the need for proactive interventions. Degree apathy emerged as a significant predictor of AI tool usage, regardless of personality traits or academic performance.
Researchers find that dehumanization of opposing groups is driven by how we think others view important facets of the world. The study suggests two approaches to combat this: correcting misperceptions and using schemas to humanize the other side through messaging.
Researchers from Ohio State University propose the integration of AI technology in customer service to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The benefits include increased accessibility, consistency, and personalized experiences, while addressing evolving hospitality trends.
A national US study finds approximately one in nine children have ever received an ADHD diagnosis, with 11.4% of children aged 3-17 currently living with the condition. The study also highlights socioeconomic and geographic factors influencing diagnosis and treatment patterns.
Researchers developed a new theory on how market dynamics can lead consumers to make risky purchases despite being cautious. The study found that social information and the desire for low prices can create collective ignorance of risks, leading to spiraling risk and poor decision-making.
A study at TUM has debunked the assumption that people overestimate dramatic causes of death due to media attention. Instead, deaths in personal environments have a more significant impact on risk perception. Respondents can consciously engage with news reports and incorporate other sources into their judgment.
Researchers propose expanding research on nature's scents and olfactory cues to better understand their impacts on human health. The study aims to investigate the complex links between smell, nature, and human well-being, including the potential for unconscious biochemical processes.
A new Northwestern University study found that technology alone resulted in worse weight loss compared to a combination of tech and telehealth coaching for obesity treatment. The study suggests that while technology has its benefits, it cannot replace the human touch for meaningful weight loss.
Researchers at the University of Cologne found that students' negative perceptions of online exams can lead to increased cheating behavior, while positive perceptions and moral norms can reduce it. The study suggests that lecturers should consider students' psychological factors when designing courses and exam formats.
A computational model and behavioral study suggest that the mind prioritizes remembering things it cannot explain well, and that harder-to-reconstruct images are more memorable. The research provides a new clue to understanding why some experiences become 'memorable' while most are discarded by the brain.
A global experiment involving 50,000 participants across 60 countries reveals that liberals and conservatives take action to address climate change at roughly the same levels. The study found that interventions aimed at increasing pro-environmental behaviors can be effective in spurring action among both groups.
A study by NTU Singapore and Duke-NUS found that volunteering among older adults in Singapore increases their quality of life through perceived social support. Regular volunteers reported having more control over their lives, leading to a better quality of life.
Researchers have pinpointed the location of an internal neural compass in the human brain, which helps orientate itself in space and navigate through the environment. This discovery has implications for understanding diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, where navigation and orientation are often impaired.
Text messaging and bulk ordering can significantly increase mammogram completion rates for breast cancer screening outreach. The study found that these interventions are effective in improving adherence to recommended screening guidelines.
A Swansea University-led study investigates the impact of omega-3 supplements on children's behavior, mood, and mental wellbeing. The research aims to identify which children may benefit most from supplements and how they can be best identified.
Researchers caution that current AI-based deception detection methods are plagued by a lack of explainability, risk of biased results, and deficits in theoretical foundation. They emphasize the need for controlled laboratory experiments, large and diverse data sets, and validation on independent datasets to ensure accurate results.
A UT Arlington student has made a groundbreaking connection between worm behavior and brain disease in humans. Through her research, she found that worms with mutations in neurodegeneration genes exhibit abnormal reactivity to stimuli, similar to those affected by schizophrenia and other neurological disorders.
Researchers discovered that maternal blood cytokines, such as XCL1, play a crucial role in fetal brain development and offspring behavior. Elevated XCL1 levels during pregnancy are associated with improved emotional regulation and reduced anxiety in male mice.
Disposable vape sales quadrupled in the UK between 2022 and 2023, contributing to e-waste accumulation. The technology contains valuable resources like lithium, but recycling is often difficult due to lack of clear instructions. Experts call for urgent reform of disposable electronics practices to protect the environment.
A recent study by psychologists from Simon Fraser University and the University of Sussex found that people are hesitant to reconnect with old friends, even when they want to. Despite having capacity and desire to do so, only about a third of participants send messages to rekindle lost friendships.
Only 4% of cancer survivors met all four American Cancer Society guidelines, with a mean of 2.0 guidelines met. This study aims to improve understanding of guideline adherence and inform recommendations for patients who have completed cancer treatments.
A recent study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that women with restrained eating habits who practiced flexible responses to food cues showed increased positivity towards high-calorie foods. This suggests that a balanced approach to responding and inhibiting food cues can foster more positive emotional reactions to food.
Health behaviors in middle adulthood are relatively stable throughout adulthood, with positive changes observed during the 19-year follow-up period. Sociodemographic characteristics and personality traits, such as conscientiousness and agreeableness, significantly influence healthier behaviors.