Articles tagged with Social Cognition
A large-scale study has found that social isolation is directly associated with changes in brain structures involved in memory and learning, making it a clear risk factor for dementia. Socially isolated individuals have a 26% increased likelihood of developing dementia compared to those with regular social connections.
Research published in Neurology found that social isolation is associated with lower brain volume in areas related to learning and thinking, and a higher risk of dementia. Socially isolated individuals were 26% more likely to develop dementia than those with no social isolation.
Researchers discovered two novel categories of cells in the BLA that respond to ethological stimuli, including event-specific neurons responding to one type of stimulus and panresponsive neurons responding equally well to multiple stimuli. These findings suggest a larger role for the BLA in memory and behavior.
A new study found that children with older siblings are less likely to develop behavioral problems, suggesting a positive impact of sibling relationships on child development. The study also highlights the importance of early intervention policies to reduce maternal stress and promote healthy child development.
A Rutgers University study found that Black adults raised in the South are more likely to experience cognition problems later in life due to factors such as poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage. In contrast, White adults from the South with higher childhood socioeconomic status tend to perform better cognitively.
A new study finds that having three or more children is negatively correlated with late-life cognition, with the effect strongest in Northern Europe. The researchers suggest that this may be due to financial stress and reduced social interaction, leading to potential cognitive deterioration.
Researchers developed a time-efficient single item measure to assess self-control, confirming its interchangeability with 'will-power' and 'self-discipline'. People with lower self-control also report boredom and lower socioeconomic status.
A study published in Journal of Psychiatric Research found a significant biological difference between psychopaths and non-psychopaths, with psychopaths having a larger striatum region in the brain. This finding is linked to increased need for stimulation, impulsive behaviors, and higher likelihood of violent behavior.
Researchers are developing a project to improve team cognition for future space missions. The project will examine how decreases in cognition cascade to the team level and impact performance. It aims to develop training and technologies, such as AI-based assistants, to counteract potential decreases in team performance.
A new study found that half of older adults with both hearing and vision impairment have serious cognitive decline, compared to 28% with only vision impairment. The study highlights the importance of considering sensory impairments in identifying those at risk for cognitive decline.
A new framework for understanding animal societies emerges from a review of wealth inequality research in humans and animals. Wealth is found to be distributed equally or unequally across species, with material goods, individual attributes, and social connections being critical sources.
Research by Adam Fetterman at the University of Houston found that publicly admitting mistakes on Facebook leads to more positive online impressions. This is because humility, openness and honesty are perceived as important traits in online interactions.
Research suggests dopamine is involved in emotion recognition, particularly in low-dose individuals. Dopamine levels influence emotional perception, with lower levels improving emotional recognition while higher levels impairing it. This finding has implications for understanding social cognition impairments in neurological disorders.
A new nationally representative study found that two in five adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were in excellent mental health. Being married, physically active, free from chronic pain, and having no history of depression or anxiety were associated with complete mental well-being.
Researchers developed EMOPRINT, a five-week behavioral intervention improving facial affect recognition skills in individuals with MS. The study showed significant improvement in facial affect recognition in the MS group compared to placebo controls.
A study led by Max Planck researchers found that parrots with large relative brain sizes have longer lifespans, averaging up to 30 years. This suggests that increased cognitive ability may help parrots navigate threats and enjoy longer lives.
According to a systematic review of over 16 million young people from 25 countries, children with disabilities experience higher rates of violence, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. The study highlights the urgent need for collaborative efforts to raise awareness and strengthen prevention efforts.
A study by Salk researchers has identified an area of the brain responsible for encoding social rank in mammals, including mice. The discovery sheds light on how the brain represents social hierarchy and its impact on behavior, particularly in competitive situations.
A new study by Thomas Pepinsky challenges the idea that language shapes thought and behavior, finding no evidence that linguistic differences affect social and economic outcomes. The study reveals that statistical methodologies used in previous research are prone to producing false positives.
A study found that adolescents with insecure toddler-mother attachment overestimate the trustworthiness of strangers and have reduced brain activity when viewing untrustworthy faces. Securely attached youth, on the other hand, are more open to processing negative social cues.
A new study found that siblings of children with disabilities score higher in self-reported cognitive empathy than typically developing peers. This may be due to the specific 'advantage' of cognitive empathy in understanding and supporting their sibling relationship.
Researchers analyzed 60 billion tweets to understand vaccine hesitancy on social media. They found that anti-vaxxer profiles often share links to YouTube videos and commercial sites selling alternative health products, highlighting the spread of misinformation in echo chambers.
Researchers at Osnabrück University observe chimpanzees applying insects to their own and others' wounds, sparking interest in potential anti-inflammatory or antiseptic properties. The team aims to investigate the social dimension of this behavior and its possible transmission through social learning.
A study found a three-fold increase in dementia risk among lonely Americans younger than 80 who didn't carry the APOE ε4 allele. Loneliness was associated with poorer executive function and changes in brain structure indicating vulnerability to Alzheimer's disease.
A study in rats found that mothers with sleep apnea during pregnancy may have an increased risk of their male offspring developing autism-like behaviors, including impaired cognitive and social function. The findings suggest a potential mechanism for the link between maternal sleep apnea and neurodevelopmental disorders.
A new study examined caregiver-child interaction in the US and Japan, finding that mothers directed their children's attention differently and Japanese children shifted their attention to become more sensitive to contextual background. The research provides insights into the role of social interaction and cultural diversity in cognitiv...
Researchers found that astrocytes regulate cognitive flexibility by releasing D-serine and glutamate, which integrates synaptic plasticity. Heterosynaptic long-term depression is mediated by astrocytes, critical for memory modification.
A recent study from Tel Aviv University found that mothers' smartphone use reduces toddler interaction by a factor of four. Reduced interaction can have far-reaching consequences on child development, including language and social skills. The study also found no significant difference between browsing smartphones and reading magazines.
A recent study by SISSA and University of Padua shows that occupation influences the course of cognitive decline. Work activity is found to be a protective factor for cognitive reserve, contributing to brain's resistance to damage caused by illness or aging.
People with mild dementia struggle to understand speech in both quiet and acoustically challenging situations. Effective communication strategies include speaking clearly and slowly, reducing background noise, and providing contextual information.
Researchers create Opto-vTrap, a reversible inhibition system that can temporarily trap vesicles from being released, allowing for controlled brain activity. The technique enables temporary removal of fear memory in live mice, with potential applications in epilepsy treatment, muscle spasm treatment, and skin tissue expansion technolog...
A UBCO study found that psychedelic microdosing significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults. The study, which followed over 8,500 participants from 75 countries, suggests that microdosing can be a valuable tool for mental health treatment.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum found that people combine different strategies to comprehend others, with mindreading playing a crucial role in building and maintaining long-term relationships. This approach suggests that social cognition should not be viewed as competing strategies, but rather as interacting and flexible methods.
A recent Rutgers University study found that receiving a new diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias leads to decreased formal and informal social engagement. This can be particularly concerning for disadvantaged populations with limited resources. The study highlights the need for practitioners and policymakers to consi...
New research published in eNeuro found that sharing happy stories increases feelings of closeness and synchronizes brain activity between the speaker and listener. Brain synchrony was linked to increased interpersonal closeness, particularly in regions involved in emotional processing and theory of mind.
A study published in Translational Psychiatry found that patients with high expectations of SSRI treatment showed a four times higher improvement rate compared to those with low expectations. The effect was attributed to the influence of dopamine on the brain's reward pathways.
A new study by Anglia Ruskin University found that individuals focused on their appearance are more prone to social physique anxiety, which leads to fear of negative evaluations and social distress in dating contexts. The research involved 501 young adults and discovered associations between body image attitudes and dating anxiety.
A new study at the University of Missouri found that telehealth reduced stress for nursing home residents while increasing access to convenient care. However, it also removed socialization opportunities and created confusion for residents with cognitive difficulties.
A new Dartmouth study found that a neural code shared across brains is responsible for recognizing familiar faces, including social and personal information. The study used hyperalignment to align brain responses into a common space, revealing high decoding accuracy in areas outside of visual processing.
A recent study found that fitness apps utilizing illness- and death-related messages are more effective in motivating users than those focusing on social stigma, obesity, or financial costs. The research discovered a significant relationship between these messaging types and self-regulatory beliefs and outcome expectations.
Researchers found that Disney films combine entertainment with life lessons about love, friendship, and social values. The study suggests using Disney movies as tools for parents to improve communication with children about difficult topics, such as death, loss, and acceptance of differences.
A study found that meditation training reduced chronic stress by 25% through decreased cortisol levels in hair. The researchers used a 9-month training programme to measure the effect, and the results showed that only sufficiently long training leads to significant stress-reducing effects.
A study led by Ruixue Zhaoyang found that frequent and pleasant social interactions can boost cognitive performance in older adults. Participants who reported more social interactions had better cognitive performance on the same day and for days following.
Research highlights six core pillars of learning: active, engaged, meaningful, socially interactive, iterative, and joyful. Experts offer practical advice on transforming everyday spaces into playful learning environments that support children's growth.
A 17-year study found that children who experienced poverty in preschool had smaller volumes of certain subcortical brain regions, including the hippocampus and thalamus. The researchers also found that these children showed slower growth in these regions over time, leading to poorer cognitive and behavioral outcomes in adulthood.
A new study published in the Social Bulletin of Psychology found that right-wing authoritarianism is more closely tied to how people acquire positive attitudes than changing them. The researchers suggest that individuals with RWA tend to be more sensitive to negative information, leading them to stick to positive information and avoid ...
A study found that witnessing moral transgressions can inhibit tongue movements, similar to tasting something unpleasant. This reaction may reflect an avoidance-defensive mechanism, adapting as a response to shared moral norms.
A Rutgers study explores the relationship between intergenerational families, acculturation, and cognitive function among older Chinese Americans. Researchers found that those with better English proficiency, media use, and social connections showed higher cognitive function.
Researchers found that puppies demonstrate human-like social skills from a young age, with a strong genetic component. They can reciprocate human social gaze and use information given by humans in social contexts, even before extensive experience with humans.
A longitudinal study found that people with relapsing-remitting MS exhibit significant social cognition deficits, particularly in facial emotion recognition and empathy. These deficits are associated with psychological outcomes of daily living, such as depression and anxiety.
A mathematical model reveals that people tend to categorize themselves and others along a spectrum, excluding those in the middle. The study predicts that self-identified Democrats and Republicans view political independents unfavorably, lumping them in with the other side or perceiving them as truly in-between.
The USPSTF recommends no routine screening for hearing loss in asymptomatic adults 50 and older due to insufficient evidence. Nearly 16% of U.S. adults report difficulty hearing, which is associated with increased risks of falls, hospitalizations, social isolation, and cognitive decline.
A new study advances the discipline of avatar-based marketing by identifying key elements of effective avatar design. The research reveals that form and behavioral realism must be aligned for avatars to be effective in achieving specific goals, with four distinct categories of avatars identified.
A study by Jon Zabala found that Basque individuals with strong identity and collective empowerment display high levels of personal and social wellbeing, as well as community participation. The researcher suggests that feeling identified with Basques balances negative aspects of being a linguistic minority.
Research suggests that physical and social pain share common processing in the brain, increasing the risk of addiction with long-term opioid therapy. The authors advocate for integrating physical and social pain care models to provide more effective treatment.
A recent study from North Carolina State University found that NRA stakeholders had conflicting emotions about the organization's response to mass shootings. Employees, donors, and volunteers reported both positive and negative feelings, with some even feeling more critical than supportive of the organization.
A new study published in PLOS ONE explores how political ideology and moral values are connected to motivated social cognition. The research found that liberals are driven by empathic motivation, while conservatives are linked to authoritarianism and a desire for order, indicating a deeper psychological divide between the two ideologies.
A study found that lower socioeconomic status accelerates decline in physical functions such as grip strength and gait speed, as well as cognitive abilities like memory and processing speed. Social circumstances also impact mental health, with less wealthy individuals experiencing more depressive symptoms and sight problems.
A new study by McGill University explores the wide-ranging, negative consequences of social isolation on human psychology and physical health. The research reveals that strong interpersonal relationships are critical for survival across the lifespan, while social isolation is a significant predictor of mortality and morbidity.
A study by FAU researchers found that neighborhood environments with greater access to social, walking and retail destinations may have limited cognitive benefits for APOE ε2 carriers, who are at lower risk for Alzheimer's disease. Beneficial neighborhoods can provide spaces for exercise, mental stimulation and stress reduction.