Articles tagged with Human Behavior
Research from the University of East Anglia found that children who are too short for their age can suffer reduced cognitive ability due to differences in brain function as early as six months. The study discovered a link between stunted growth and disrupted visual working memory, making them more easily distracted.
A study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers found that crowdfunding platforms create a sense of democracy, but backers often come from similar groups and give to projects they find cool. This limits the democratizing potential of crowdfunding.
A study found that pet owners worldwide tend to be more emotionally attached to and willing to spend more on their dogs compared to their cats. However, there are significant cultural differences in attitudes towards pets across countries, with Denmark showing a notable preference for dog care.
A new UConn study examined the effect of couples on each other's 'grit' and self-control, key ingredients for weight management. Researchers found that couples did not influence each other's self-control or grit levels, but rather these traits were malleable through behavioral interventions.
A recent study by SMU psychologist Sarah Kucker and a student researcher found that shyness can influence young children's performance on language tests. Shy children tend to struggle with verbal tasks but excel in pointing tasks, highlighting the importance of considering social interaction levels when assessing language abilities.
A new study suggests that individual animals, like Lua the Antillean manatee, can be used as flagships to encourage engagement and behavioural change in conservation. These charismatic species often have unique characteristics that make them appealing to humans and can inspire policy changes.
A study published in Nature Human Behaviour has uncovered a neural pathway preferentially involved in pain perception across species. The researchers identified the central role of the medial-dorsal thalamic nucleus in pain perception, which exhibited a more pronounced activation in response to painful stimuli.
An international team of scientists recommends a global shift in food choices due to the potential for addiction. They suggest that certain ultra-processed foods have characteristics similar to addictive substances, which may improve global health.
Researchers discovered that users' prior beliefs about an AI chatbot's motives significantly impact their interactions with the agent. Priming users to believe certain things about the AI's empathy, neutrality, or manipulation influences their perception of its trustworthiness and effectiveness.
The journal highlights the complexities of neurological injury and neurodegenerative diseases, emphasizing virtual care as a potential solution. Identifying and treating neuropsychiatric symptoms is crucial for effective rehabilitation.
A behavioral experiment involving 644 older adults found that many are susceptible to government impersonation scams, including those without cognitive impairment. The study highlights the need for awareness and education among this demographic to prevent such scams.
A new study from North Carolina State University explores how racism shapes Black motherhood in the US, revealing distinct challenges and stresses faced by Black mothers. The study categorizes these effects into three areas: protective mothering, resistance mothering, and encumbered mothering.
The study reveals that while CTFs showed small increases in saved sums, many accounts remained untouched and parents had forgotten or lost track of them. The research calls for revisiting the principles behind the programme to improve UK's financial resilience.
A groundbreaking study by Florida Atlantic University reveals that agency emerges from the coupled relation between humans and their environment. Infants are found to discover their causal powers and transition from spontaneous to intentional behavior at a critical level of coordination, marking an abrupt increase in movement rate.
A study published by the American Psychological Association finds that people experiencing financial scarcity make decisions based on their immediate needs, prioritizing short-term gains only when scarcity threatens their most pressing requirements. Researchers examined how participants' choices changed depending on the timeline of the...
A comprehensive review of sedentary behavior's effects on health found excessive sitting to lead to insulin resistance, vascular dysfunction, and increased body fat. The study emphasizes the need for more research on effective interventions to reduce sedentary behavior.
A new study found that negative behavior can spill over to unrelated third parties, regardless of the initial intent. When individuals face resource loss due to negative action, they are inclined to seek compensation from both immediate offenders and unrelated third parties.
A study found that Spanish-speaking Latino preschoolers were more generous than their English-speaking peers, while English-speaking children chose competitive options. This suggests that children from collectivist cultures prioritize group well-being over individualism even at a young age.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE surveyed over 5,000 British people to better understand how sexual behaviors change with age. The research found that many gay and bisexual men continue to have multiple partners well into old age, while straight women become less sexually active after 50.
The American Heart Association and NFL offer resources to support physical activity in classrooms. The initiative aims to promote whole-body health and reduce sedentary behaviors among students.
Researchers found that insects like American cockroaches use the mushroom body to encode behavioral decision-making based on sensory information. The study challenges the prevailing view of insect cognition, suggesting a more complex brain function than previously thought.
A soft ball designed to support mental health has been invented, giving users a tangible representation of their breath to regulate emotions. The device, called PAWS, shows significant improvement in reducing anxiety and increasing protection against worry-induced thoughts, with an average 75% reduction in anxiety.
A new study from the University of Georgia found that improved sleep can significantly reduce impulsive behaviors in children exposed to stressful environments. The study, which analyzed data from over 11,000 children aged 9-10, discovered that lack of sleep and long sleep latency were linked to increased impulsivity.
A new study by University of Rhode Island Professor Jaime Ross found microplastics infiltrate all systems of the body, causing behavioral changes and potentially leading to serious health consequences, including Alzheimer's disease. The researchers discovered microplastics accumulate in every organ, including the brain, and alter immun...
The study found that mindfulness increases moral outrage and punishment for others in injustice, challenging the idea that it can numb people to such events. No bystanding behavior was observed across all studies, indicating that more people will help a person in distress when witnessing injustice.
Researchers found a significant increase in pediatric trauma admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic, with younger patients and falls from moderate heights being more common. Blood alcohol levels were also higher in patients aged 14-18 years old, suggesting targeted interventions to curb alcohol use may be needed
A recent study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin reveals that both conservatism and liberalism have unifying values such as tradition and inclusiveness, but also divisive vices like elitism and rebellion. These findings suggest that these ideologies are not mutually exclusive, but rather interconnected concepts.
Researchers synthesized over 50 studies to find that mental simulations using visuals or verbal calls to action improve behavioral intentions and behavior. However, the effectiveness varies depending on the modality, frequency, type of consumption experience, and target populations.
A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge developed a way to incorporate human error into machine learning systems, improving their performance in handling uncertain feedback. However, they found that even with uncertainty accounted for, hybrid systems still perform worse than standalone machine learning models.
Scientists developed a novel Double Machine Learning approach to model bird population trends, removing confounding factors caused by changing human behavior. The result is detailed trend maps for each species down to an eight-mile radius, providing valuable insights for local conservation efforts.
A Cornell University study found that encouraging fact-checking on Reddit led to a drop in story rank by an average of minus-25 spots, causing stories to be missed by readers. The research suggests that collective efforts to improve information environments can influence algorithmic recommendations.
A team at Sandia National Laboratories has created a new way of testing personal protective equipment (PPE) that is faster and more comprehensive. They developed two human models: one for the face and another for the entire head, allowing for more realistic testing of mask performance. The new method also includes automated donning and...
A study examining Facebook users' news feeds found that reducing exposure to content from politically 'like-minded' sources had no measurable effect on political beliefs or attitudes during the 2020 US presidential election. The study also found that participants were exposed to more cross-cutting sources and less uncivil content after...
An observational study of college students found that young women are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like multitasking and conversation while descending stairs. This is compared to young men who were less likely to engage in these behaviors, suggesting that women may be more distracted while descending stairs.
A three-month mild exercise program improved executive function in middle-aged and older adults by increasing neural efficiency in the prefrontal cortex. The benefits were particularly pronounced in the older adult group, suggesting a positive impact on cognitive function and brain function with minimal physical exertion.
A new study published in Aging (Albany NY) suggests that prior training can rescue cognitive decline in aging by improving task performance and strengthening memory processes. The research, conducted on rats, found that prior training enhanced short-term and intermediate memory, while also enabling encoding-boosted long-term memory.
Researchers found that consumers experience emotional rollercoaster during self-design, with optimism decreasing quickly. Companies can learn from this study to provide attractive starting designs and reduce abandonment rates by providing a 'lock-in' mechanism.
A mobile app is being tested to help students with disabilities such as autism, down syndrome, and learning disorders. The app, I-Connect, will enable select students to set goals, track progress, and receive prompts to improve their behavior and engagement in class.
Researchers propose a system that plays brief, targeted sounds to alert individuals near digital signage, while only making the sound audible to those actively viewing it. The system improved participants' attention to signage and reduced distractions.
A study by the University of California - Riverside found that consumers tend to overuse shared products like hand sanitizer when they think others will use them. To reduce waste, the study suggests making consumers believe they're sharing with family or friends, and increasing their identification with the product.
Researchers discovered that a diet rich in the bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri can maintain associative learning ability in older nematodes. This finding suggests potential ways to use diet to reduce age-related cognitive decline in other animals, including humans.
Researchers found a disrupted balance between glutamate and GABA neurotransmitters in the brains of people with OCD, which may lead to new treatment strategies. The study also suggests that excess glutamate levels could serve as a biomarker for OCD.
A new study suggests that more women should be aware of the potential for revision surgery after cosmetic breast augmentation. The researchers found that those who consider themselves healthier and have higher levels of education are less likely to undergo or recommend the procedure.
Researchers have identified finger-marks on a cave wall in France as the oldest known Neanderthal engravings, dating back to around 75,000 years ago. The marks were made using a plotting analysis and photogrammetry to create 3D models, confirming that they are deliberate, organized shapes created by human hands.
A new study revealed significant racial and ethnic disparities in US alcohol-related deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic. American Indian and Alaska Native populations saw a more than doubling of alcohol-related deaths, while Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans experienced substantial increases as well.
A computational psychological model predicts subtle behaviors in real traffic, such as hesitating before crossing and speeding up to deny pedestrians a crossing opportunity. The model accurately simulates 32 pairs of participants interacting as driver and pedestrian in a driver-pedestrian simulator.
A McMaster University study found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for new mothers can lead to adaptive changes in infant brain functioning and reduce post-partum depression symptoms. The study tracked 73 pairs of mothers and babies undergoing PPD treatments between 2018 and 2020.
The study found that fathers who supported their partners' breastfeeding goals had higher rates of successful breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Fathers were also more likely to implement safe sleep practices when they received guidance on infant sleep safety. However, racial disparities in safe sleep practices persist, with Bl...
A new family-based treatment approach for childhood obesity has been successfully implemented in pediatric primary care settings, leading to improved weight outcomes over 24 months. The treatment's effectiveness was found to extend beyond the treated child, with siblings also experiencing improvements in weight.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open explores the association between adverse childhood experiences and epigenetic aging in midlife. The research found that early life experiences can accelerate biological aging, which may contribute to various health outcomes in middle-age adults.
A new UK survey study led by Lancaster University found that 6.6% of the population aged 16 and over changed their reported sexual identity over a six-year period. The research challenges the assumption that sexual identity mobility declines with age, revealing that it is as prevalent among over-65s as young people.
Research from Oregon State University shows that Americans judge the morality of armed self-protection on a case-by-case basis, considering factors like perceived threat and background of the person carrying the gun. The study highlights the complexity of consumer views on gun rights and Second Amendment rights.
Researchers found that manual labor's perceived meaning can predict the adoption of autonomous products. Consumers tend to reject these products due to a loss of meaning in life. Companies can highlight alternative sources of meaning to reduce negative effects on adoption.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a method to control the behavior of swarming microrobots by varying their size. By mixing different sizes of microrobots, they can self-organize into diverse patterns that can be manipulated when a magnetic field is applied. This technique may help inform future applications such as targ...
A new study from UTHealth Houston found that children and teenagers who volunteer tend to flourish mentally and physically. Volunteers were in better physical health, had a more positive outlook on life, and were less likely to experience anxiety, depression, or behavioral problems.
Researchers at the University of Utah Health have made a groundbreaking discovery about the role of microglia in controlling anxiety-related behaviors. The study found that specific microglia populations activate anxiety behaviors while others dampen them, and these cells communicate with neurons to invoke behaviors.
A new study in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease examines the effects of environmental enrichment on AD symptom progression and pathology. The researchers found that living in an enriched environment improved several measures of metabolism and reduced individual behaviors, which became more similar and rigid as the disease progressed.
A Monash University study found that the shape of a person's brain, rather than its complex connections, plays a crucial role in how we think, feel, and behave. The research used magnetic resonance imaging to identify eigenmodes, natural patterns of vibration, which are influenced by the brain's structural properties.
A new study found that sixty percent of Canadians maintained or improved their lifestyle habits during the pandemic, while forty percent adopted less healthy behaviors. Researchers identified certain groups, including those with body image issues and stress, as more likely to adopt unhealthy habits.
A team of cognitive scientists created a computational model to understand the factors affecting decision-making and planning depth. They found that better planning is driven by the ability to recognize patterns more accurately and in less time, pointing to the benefits of practice and experience.