Articles tagged with Social Cognition
Researchers argue that ape and human social cognition abilities are being misjudged due to poor experimental designs and biases. Studies have combined experience and species inappropriately, leading to flawed conclusions about species differences.
A study of 1,600 older adults found a strong association between accumulated cognitive and social activities and a slower rate of memory loss. The research suggests that individuals with higher cognitive reserve may be less likely to develop dementia, providing new insights into the prevention and treatment of this disease.
A new study found that low social engagement in elderly men and women is associated with greater cognitive decline over three years, particularly among those with high levels of brain amyloid-β. Researchers say social engagement may be an important marker of resilience or vulnerability in older adults at risk of cognitive impairment.
LGBT-identifying females are at increased risk of substance use starting at age 13, with rates 400% higher than heterosexual peers. Early intervention efforts may help prevent substance use and reduce disparities.
A Japanese study found that cognitive therapy maintained its effects more than a year after therapy for patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) who did not respond to antidepressant drugs. Cognitive therapy helped patients overcome negative thoughts and behaviors, allowing them to enjoy social interactions more.
Research presents findings on the role of social support and sense of purpose in preserving cognitive abilities with age among Hispanics/Latinos. Higher scores on ethnic identity, life engagement, and social support are associated with higher cognitive functioning, whereas loneliness and familism are linked to lower cognitive function.
Research on social cognition reveals that implicit attitudes play a crucial role in shaping stereotypical beliefs about social groups. The study found that individuals' automatic positive-negative judgments supersede specific group traits or stereotypes.
Researchers at UAB identified overconnectivity in unimodal-subcortical connections and underconnectivity in supramodal-subcortical connections in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. This finding may help understand the expression of ASD and develop biomarkers for earlier diagnosis.
A new study on children from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project found that those who remained in institutions experienced cognitive problems, depression, anxiety, and disruptive behavior. In contrast, children placed with high-quality foster families showed improved outcomes, particularly at ages 12 and 16.
A study of 20,244 people from 16 European countries found that those who experienced socioeconomic hardship in childhood scored lower on tests of verbal and memory skills. Researchers suggest that addressing childhood poverty could help protect cognitive health.
A recent study reveals that people tend to compare themselves more strongly in situations of social tightness, such as job interviews, or collective, interdependent social situations. The researchers found a link between cultural tightness, interdependence, and social comparison across individuals, situations, and cultures.
A comprehensive review of research found a significant association between childhood adversity and impaired social cognitive functioning among adults with major psychiatric disorders. The study highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms behind early trauma and its effects on social cognition, which may inform the develop...
A randomized controlled trial shows that a behavioral treatment, Behavioral Activation, can reduce the risk of future memory loss by increasing social, cognitive, and/or physical activity. The study found an 88% reduction in cognitive decline compared to the control group.
A new study finds that toddlers are attuned to how others may be judging them and modify their behavior accordingly. Children between 14 and 24 months show inhibition when being watched with a neutral or negative expression, but press the buttons associated with positive responses more often.
A study found that individuals with higher cognitive flexibility were more likely to support EU membership, immigration, and free movement of labour. In contrast, those with lower cognitive flexibility displayed more conservative and nationalistic attitudes, predicting support for Brexit.
A study by researchers at the University of Exeter found that dominant male pheasants were better at remembering which tunnel was clear. This suggests a link between social dominance and cognitive performance, with top-ranking males performing 40% better than their less dominant peers.
A recent study by Georgia State researchers found a correlation between chimpanzee self-control and general intelligence, mirroring the famous marshmallow test results in humans. The Hybrid Delay Task revealed that chimps who showed higher levels of generalized intelligence were more efficient in delayed gratification tests.
A new study finds that nostalgia for America's past can buffer collective guilt and create group coherence. Those who glorify the US tend to be more nostalgic, which alleviates feelings of guilt about historical wrongs.
A six-year study found that cognitive enhancement therapy (CET) significantly improved neurocognitive function in adults with autism, particularly in attention and social understanding. In contrast, enriched supportive therapy (EST) showed slower but still significant improvements in social cognition.
A team of linguists and evolutionary biologists found certain linguistic changes occurred due to selective forces, while others were guided by chance. The study analyzed substantial collections of annotated texts and identified patterns where random chance affected rare words more than common ones.
A study of 12,815 U.S. and U.K. Facebook users found that religious affiliation is associated with the use of positive emotion and social words, while non-religious individuals use more negative emotion and cognitive processes. The researchers also discovered that non-religious people make more frequent mention of the body and death th...
A mobile health app called SuperBetter improved concussion symptoms and optimism in teens who used it daily alongside standard medical treatment. The app incorporates social game mechanics and a heroic narrative to help teens cope with unresolved concussion symptoms, promoting healthy habits and reduced risk of depression.
Research from the University of Chicago reveals that loneliness increases self-centeredness, which in turn contributes to further loneliness. This creates a negative feedback loop that can worsen social isolation. The study suggests targeting self-centeredness as part of an intervention to reduce loneliness may help break this cycle.
A recent study found that non-breeding ravens form highly dynamic social groups, often meeting at rich food sources and common night roosts. These interactions may have driven brain evolution in ravens, similar to humans who prefer to explore or stay in one place.
A new study found that children who experience food insecurity in early childhood are more likely to start kindergarten less ready to learn than their peers from homes that are food secure. The study also showed that the timing and intensity of food insecurity matter, with longer episodes linked to poorer outcomes.
A recent study found that children exposed to severe deprivation in Romanian institutions aged 0-3 experience mental health problems in early adulthood. Despite living in supportive families, these children had higher rates of social, emotional, and cognitive problems throughout their lives.
Researchers found that cognitively normal people 70 and older who engaged in computer use, craft activities, social activities, or playing games had a decreased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. The study's findings suggest that mentally stimulating activities can be beneficial even for those at genetic risk.
A recent study published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics shows that cognitive therapy on its own has a much better effect over the long term than just drugs or a combination of the two. Nearly 85% of patients improved or became healthy using only cognitive therapy.
Research at Kobe University found that horses send signals to humans both visually and physically when faced with unsolvable problems, adapting their behavior based on humans' knowledge. This high social cognitive ability may have been acquired during domestication, enabling horses to form close bonds with humans.
A study of 9,119 men and women found that participating in civic activities was associated with better cognitive function at age 50. The researchers also found that low socio-economic status as a child and worse mental well-being in adulthood were linked to poorer cognitive outcomes.
Researchers found great apes can predict false beliefs and actions, similar to human infants, indicating a shared cognitive skill that may be millions of years old. This challenges the notion of human exceptionalism and opens up new avenues for studying animal cognition.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania failed to replicate a 2013 study's finding that reading literary fiction improves social abilities. They tested using the original study materials and methodology but found no significant difference between literary and popular fiction.
A recent study published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience suggests that oxytocin may support spiritual beliefs by enhancing feelings of awe, gratitude, and hope. Men who received oxytocin reported a stronger sense of spirituality and interconnectedness with others, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Researchers investigate whether fiction can broaden minds, promote empathy, and improve mental well-being. Studies show that engaging with narratives can simulate social worlds, prompting understanding and empathy.
A five-year study found that men and women in engineering programs experience different expectations and outcomes, with women expecting negative experiences and this deterring them from staying. The research aims to develop methods to retain vulnerable populations in the engineering pipeline and provide evidence-based interventions.
Effective patient-physician communication is crucial for prostate cancer survivors' physical and emotional well-being. A study of 1772 patients found that good communication at least 3 years after surgery is associated with improved quality of life.
Researchers found that smaller, more interconnected social networks are associated with early signs of cognitive decline. Participants with mild cognitive impairment or dementia had a higher proportion of relatives in their networks and less socialization with friends and neighbors.
A recent study examined the relationship between empathy and understanding others' mental states. The findings suggest that people who tend to be empathic do not necessarily understand other people well at a cognitive level. Social skills seem to be based on multiple abilities that are independent of each other.
A one-week language course improves attention levels in students of all ages. Regular practice maintains these benefits. The study found that acquiring a new language enhances cognitive functions, particularly for older adults.
Researchers found that observing a person in pain can lead to nocebo hyperalgesia, while unexplained interventions also elevate pain experience. The study suggests taking these factors into account in medical practice and research to better understand nocebo hyperalgesia.
Researchers are often hesitant to discuss shame, using terms like ostracism instead, according to UC Santa Barbara researcher Thomas Scheff. Scheff argues that conventional thoughts about shame see it as an emotion triggered by a particular stimulus, but he believes humans are built around shame and it's time to reclaim the term.
A new social robot from MIT offers personalized learning experiences for students through emotional interpretation and customized motivational strategies. The system was tested in a preschool classroom, showing increased student engagement and positive attitudes towards the robot.
Depicting is a method of communication that involves staging scenes using actions, facial expressions, and voice. This theory, developed by Herbert Clark, complements describing and highlights the importance of depicting in everyday conversation, particularly in evoking emotions and empathy.
The updated definitions aim to facilitate early identification of patients at risk of developing sepsis, with a new bedside clinical score termed qSOFA. The revised criteria also acknowledge the importance of molecular and cellular characterization in sepsis management.
New research suggests that ravens share human-like ability to think abstractly about other minds, attributed to mental states including vision. Ravens guarded food caches in response to auditory cues from unseen competitors, demonstrating a level of Theory of Mind previously unknown in non-human animals.
A new study at Bielefeld University investigates how a robotic bartender can understand human communication and serve drinks socially appropriately. Participants played the role of robotic bartenders, making decisions based on sensor data, to find that ignoring some data can be beneficial.
Researchers found that directing magnetic energy into the brain reduced belief in God by 32.8% and increased positive feelings towards immigrants by 28.5%. The study used transcranial magnetic stimulation to temporarily shut down specific brain regions.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that monk parakeets use a complex system of mental math to determine their place in the pecking order. By analyzing aggression patterns, researchers discovered that birds can infer rank based on chains of interactions and adjust their behavior accordingly.
A study by the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis found that monk parakeets develop an understanding of rank after about a week of interactions. They use social feedback to refine their behavior, avoiding fights with higher-ranked birds while targeting those closely matched in rank.
A recent study has identified a face-selective region in the temporal cortex of dogs, which responds significantly to human and dog faces. The research suggests that this ability is hard-wired through cognitive evolution and may help explain dogs' sensitivity to human social cues.
Research found that healthy individuals with difficulties regulating emotions exhibit smaller volume in orbitofrontal cortex, a region also affected in people with borderline and antisocial personality disorders. The study suggests a continuum in emotional regulation ability, with extreme variants leading to psychiatric diagnoses.
Researchers found that early, high-quality caregiving can reduce risks associated with preterm birth and improve cognitive and social development. A new intervention program also showed promise in promoting sensitive parent-child interactions and enhancing parents' enthusiasm for their children.
Researchers discovered differences in brain regions associated with trust, particularly the ventral medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala. These findings have implications for future treatments of psychological conditions like autism.
A study by Cecilia Aragon at the University of Washington found that bilingual speakers increase their use of emoticons when chatting in a non-native language, mirroring face-to-face communication patterns. This suggests that bilinguals are adapting online communication to their cultural norms.
A study of abandoned Romanian children reveals significant associations between childhood neglect and altered white matter in the brain. Early intervention into foster care promoted more normal development in previously neglected children.
A study found that humans tend to turn down sure rewards if they derive from an unfair distribution of resources, regardless of whether the individual themselves or others are affected. Brain imaging revealed differing brain circuits in these two conditions.
Researchers find that listening to human speech promotes infants' cognitive, social psychological capacities and has positive developmental consequences. Infants as young as 2-3 months old benefit from tuning in to speech, leading to better understanding of patterns, recognizing partners, and establishing coherent categories.
A landmark study found that training older adults in social media improves mental health and well-being by enhancing cognitive capacity, increasing self-competence, and combating isolation. The study showed that participants became more positive about computers, engaged in social activity, and had a stronger sense of personal identity.
A study published in CANCER found that adult survivors of retinoblastoma have few cognitive or social problems decades after diagnosis and treatment. The research suggests the brain may adapt to early insults, with some survivors performing better on verbal memory tasks.
A new study finds that physical pain and social rejection activate different brain regions, challenging the long-held theory that they are processed similarly. The research could lead to more effective treatments for social pain, including the use of traditional painkillers.