Research on why people act as they do. Covers self-processing across primates, substance use, weight-loss behavior, and nicotine seeking.
Research analyzed over 130 studies to find that touch benefits mental health, especially when administered by parents to infants. Touch can reduce pain, depression, and anxiety in adults, with a positive effect on cardiovascular factors.
A new study found that mums with insecure attachment traits showed more brain-to-brain synchrony with their children, while fathers and children had stronger brain-to-brain synchrony. The research suggests that high or low synchrony can signal interaction difficulties in families.
Researchers at Nagoya University discovered that writing down one's reaction to a negative incident on paper and then disposing of it significantly reduces feelings of anger. The study found that participants who threw away the paper experienced a significant decrease in anger levels, while those who kept it saw only a small reduction.
Research found female Democrats and non-white male Democrats have a fundraising advantage when running against white male Republicans. Democratic donors give more when their party nominates a white female or non-white male candidate against a white male Democrat.
A Tulane University study found that ephemeral photos on dating apps can lead to better outcomes for users, increasing the number of matches and conversations. The research suggests that people are more willing to share personal info due to higher levels of privacy.
A recent US study has found that sports gamblers are disproportionately more likely to binge drink compared to non-gamblers. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, surveyed over 4,300 adults and discovered that sports bettors were 1.9 times more likely to consume excessive alcohol.
A new study by North Carolina State University found that smart utility meters can improve energy efficiency in manufacturing, but only if managers actively use the technology. The research used event system theory to understand the impact of proactive changes on business outcomes.
Researchers found that greater insecurity and anxiety trigger overly optimistic thinking, which can prevent people from taking necessary actions. Interventions reduced wishful thinking by making patterns easier to recognize or offering higher rewards for correct answers.
A UK study found that majority of rabbit owners could identify pain and pain-free rabbits but lacked knowledge on subtle signs, highlighting the need for education and training.
A study by Dr Francesco Rigoli found that right-wing supporters tend to evaluate the past as more positive than left-wingers, while left-wingers are more optimistic about the future. This effect is observed across various countries, including the USA, UK, Italy, South Africa, Mexico, and Poland.
Academics from the University of Birmingham suggest a new approach to identifying consciousness in babies, building on adult markers. They propose clustering markers across early and late development stages to pinpoint emergence.
Researchers found that our brains analyze submolecular features when we smell, leading to changes in perception over time. This dynamic adaptation affects the way our brains represent smells, making them less consistent than previously thought.
Researchers from SWPS University studied how participants adjusted their private moral judgments to conform with others' opinions in virtual environments. In two studies, they found that people conformed to group pressure in 43% and 30% cases when faced with avatars controlled by humans or AI, respectively.
Researchers analyzed over 150 studies involving more than 10,000 participants to find that lowering physiological arousal is key to managing anger. Arousal-decreasing activities such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and meditation were effective in reducing anger, while activities increasing arousal like jogging had no effect.
The researchers highlight the need for interdisciplinary research on information overload and call for legislative action to mitigate its effects on emotional health, job performance, and societal interactions. They cite a potential solution in teaching 'information ecology' in school, similar to the Clean Air Act in the UK.
A new study published in The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology reveals that high-tech bots are more likely to be held responsible for civilian deaths, even when the incidents are identical. Researchers found that people perceive robots as more culpable if described in a more advanced way.
A new study found that 51% of Canadian newspaper coverage during the 2019 federal election was classified as infotainment, featuring personal foibles and horse races alongside substantive coverage. Infotainment categories include personalization, sensationalization, and decontextualization, with significant impacts on voter information.
A global study finds that people from different cultures favor simple integer ratios in music rhythms, but with varying degrees of bias. The research team gathered data from 39 groups across 15 countries and found a degree of universality in music perception and cognition.
New research from Ohio State University suggests that people with negative attitudes tend to delay tackling unpleasant tasks due to valence weighting bias. This phenomenon can be shifted towards neutrality to reverse procrastination.
UCLA Health researchers found a group of astrocytes in the central striatum regulate neurotransmitter communication and gate perseverative behavior. The discovery may lead to potential therapies for disorders like autism, OCD, and Tourette syndrome.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that older women who sat for 11.7 hours or more per day increased their risk of death by 30 percent. The study used machine-learned algorithm CHAP to examine total sitting time and length of sitting bouts.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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...
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 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.