Articles tagged with Human Behavior
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...
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.
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.
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...