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How cultural norms shape childhood development

A new cross-cultural study suggests that children's behavior in situations involving fairness, trust, forgiveness, and honesty is shaped by local cultural norms. As children enter middle childhood, their behavior aligns with community values, refining their understanding of social norms and cooperation.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience Advances·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 6, 2026

Do you see what I see?

A study published in PNAS found that young children perceive colors similarly to adults, with consistent structure across age groups and cultures. The researchers developed a touch panel interface to evaluate conscious experiences, revealing robustness in their approach.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2025

Scanning synaptic receptors: A game-changer for understanding psychiatric disorders

Researchers developed a method to visualize AMPA receptors using PET scans, revealing differences in density and distribution between healthy subjects and those with psychiatric disorders. This discovery may lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder.

SourceYCU Advanced Medical Research Center·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateNov 5, 2024

Listening skills bring human-like touch to robots

A new system dubbed SonicSense allows robots to interpret the world through acoustic vibrations, giving them a richer ability to 'feel' and understand objects. The system, featuring a robotic hand with contact microphones, can identify materials, shapes, and recognize objects in complex environments.

SourceDuke University·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2024

“Space at your fingertips” - groundbreaking research unlocks the potential of touch for 3D spatial perception

A new study developed a Touch-Motion Algorithm to explore tactile sensation with spatial components, enabling participants to localize 3D motion through fingertips. The results demonstrated accurate integration of audio and tactile information in challenging environments, opening pathways for enhancing human perception and interaction.

SourceReichman University·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 21, 2024

U of M research team demonstrates cortex's self-organizing abilities in neural development

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have found that the cortex can transform unorganized inputs into highly organized patterns of activity, demonstrating self-organization. This process occurs entirely within the cortex itself, indicating that the brain is able to organize its own function during development.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 21, 2024

Modesty and boastfulness – perception depends on usual performance

Research at Kobe University and University of Sussex reveals that self-presentation evaluation shifts from positive for usually poorly performing individuals to less positive around age 10. Younger children tend to view self-presenters as more competent and nice, while adults evaluate false statements more negatively.

SourceKobe University·JournalJournal of Experimental Child Psychology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 29, 2024

Guardian of drone: Towards autonomous sea-land-air cloaks

A team at Zhejiang University has developed a self-driving cloaked unmanned drone with an intelligent aeroamphibious invisibility cloak, capable of manipulating electromagnetic scattering in real-time across dynamic environments. The cloak integrates perception, decision-making, and execution functionalities using spatiotemporal modula...

Infants are not startled by visual illusions

A recent study reveals that infants aged six months and older can perceive misbinding, a type of visual illusion where features are mistakenly integrated. In contrast, infants under six months do not exhibit this phenomenon, indicating they may perceive the external world more accurately than adults.

SourceChuo University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateDec 4, 2023

Do extracurricular activities always give children a head start? Research says maybe not

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.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalJournal of School Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 15, 2023

Peer educators play key role in new recipe development and testing

A hybrid home-use testing method involves peer educators evaluating recipes before preparing them, providing insights into their perceptions of the recipe's appearance, taste, and texture. The study shows that this method can be an effective way to evaluate recipes without a controlled laboratory setting.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·TypeSurvey·DateNov 14, 2023

New study sheds light on the impact of in-stream video advertising on ad information encoding

A recent study published in Journal of Advertising sheds light on the effects of in-stream video advertising on ad information encoding. The research found that mid-roll ads elicit negative emotions but do not affect viewers' purchase intention. In contrast, pre- and post-roll ads have a significant impact on memory formation, highligh...

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory restores cold sensation in amputees’ phantom limbs

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory developed a wearable thin-film thermoelectric cooler that enables amputees to perceive temperature sensations in their phantom limbs. The technology has practical applications for improved prostheses, haptics, and pain management.

SourceJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2023

Interactive floor system makes tracks in encouraging children’s play

Researchers developed an interactive system using floor projections that respond to the player's movements to encourage children's imagination and engagement. The system was evaluated in a study, revealing that unrealistic interactions stimulate children's imaginations more than realistic interactions.

SourceKobe University·JournalInternational Journal of Child-Computer Interaction·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 25, 2021

What is a good looking penis?

Women perceive normal-looking genitals in men with distal hypospadias as comparable to those without the condition. The study aims to alleviate shame or impaired genital perceptions about penile appearance.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Sexual Medicine·DateJul 20, 2015

Crossing continents -- where we drive affects how we drive

A study by University of Nottingham researchers found that Malaysian drivers are less likely to identify situations as dangerous and react to them later than British drivers. The study suggests that hazard perception tests may need to be adapted for developing countries where road safety is a primary concern.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalTransportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour·DateNov 28, 2013

Deaf children who get cochlear implants earliest get the biggest language boost, large study finds

A new study found that deaf children who receive cochlear implants at a young age have better speech recognition skills than those who wait longer. The research suggests that early implantation is crucial for language development and can improve communication skills in children with hearing impairments.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalOtology & Neurotology·DateJan 1, 2001