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Innovative one-minute video game boasts 80% success rate in diagnosing autism

A new video game, CAMI, uses motion-tracking technology to detect differences in motor imitation skills, distinguishing children with autism from neurotypical children and ADHD patients with 80% accuracy. The tool has the potential to transform autism diagnoses worldwide by providing a quick, low-cost, and easy-to-use alternative.

SourceKennedy Krieger Institute·JournalThe British Journal of Psychiatry·DateJan 28, 2025

Violence on TV: What happens to children who watch?

A new study found that early exposure to violent TV content in childhood is associated with increased risk of antisocial behavior in teenagers, especially boys. The study, led by Professor Linda Pagani, followed over 1,900 children from ages 3.5 to 15 and found that boys who watched more violent TV content had higher rates of aggressiv...

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateJan 20, 2025

Understanding bias and discrimination in AI: Why sociolinguistics holds the key to better Large Language Models and a fairer world

A new study aims to address bias and discrimination in AI by leveraging sociolinguistics. By incorporating diverse dialects, registers, and periods of language into training data, researchers can improve the performance of large language models, making them more accurate and reliable. This approach also promotes ethical and socially aw...

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalFrontiers in Artificial Intelligence·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2025

Generative AI: Uncovering its environmental and social costs

The study reveals GenAI development's significant environmental impact, including hardware production's resource consumption and e-waste generation. Socially, the research exposes labor concerns and unequal access to AI systems, advocating for energy-efficient designs, improved labor conditions, and inclusive governance.

SourceEurasia Academic Publishing Group·JournalEnvironmental Science and Ecotechnology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJan 10, 2025

Physical neglect as damaging to children’s social development as abuse

A new study by University of Illinois professors Christina Kamis and Molly Copeland found that physical neglect disrupts all three dimensions of children's structural peer relationships: sociality, popularity, and social network cohesion. Maltreated youth are less social, more withdrawn, and have fragmented relationships.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalChild Abuse & Neglect·TypeSurvey·DateJan 9, 2025

Breakthrough study reveals bumetanide treatment restores early social communication in fragile X syndrome mouse model

Researchers found that bumetanide treatment normalizes neonatal social communication in newborn pups with the fragile X mutation, but reduces post-pubertal social interaction. The study suggests stage-specific effects on social development and raises questions about timing and dosing of bumetanide for targeted interventions.

SourceGenomic Press·JournalGenomic Psychiatry·DateDec 24, 2024

World’s only bonobo sanctuary helps orphaned apes overcome trauma to develop social skills and empathy

A study by Durham University found that bonobos orphaned by the illegal trade in bushmeat and pets can develop social abilities despite early life trauma. Researchers observed 83 bonobos at different stages of their lives, finding that female bonobos' social skills increased with age, while males' decreased, similar to wild interactions.

SourceDurham University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeObservational study·DateDec 17, 2024

NIH study finds no significant link between time spent in childcare and young children's mental health, even amid early adversity

A new NIH study has found that spending time in childcare does not significantly affect young children's mental health, even among those facing early adversity. The study followed over 2,000 parent-child pairs and found no link between hours spent in childcare and symptoms of anxiety, depression, or aggression.

SourceEnvironmental influences on Child Health Outcomes·JournalDevelopment and Psychopathology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 17, 2024

First evidence in the Levant (and among the first in the world) of communal worship in caves and the development of religious rituals

A 35,000-year-old ritual complex in the Manot Cave offers insight into the spiritual practices of Paleolithic hunter-gatherer groups. The discovery reveals evidence of human-made engravings, ash remains from fire, and acoustic tests that suggest a unique auditory experience for communal activities.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 10, 2024

Could online technology be a clue as to why boys in Norway are outperforming girls in learning English as a second language?

A new study found that Norwegian boys are outperforming girls in learning English as a second language, with the gap increasing at age 13. The researchers suggest that online gaming and digital technology may be contributing factors, contradicting conventional wisdom about gender differences in language acquisition.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalAssessment in Education Principles Policy and Practice·DateDec 8, 2024

Male African elephants develop distinct personality traits as they age

Researchers observed 34 male African savannah elephants in Etosha National Park, identifying five types of behavior that were consistently different between individuals. Younger males were more similar in temperament than older males, suggesting that their unique personalities develop as they age.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateDec 4, 2024

Overthinking what you said? It’s your ‘lizard brain’ talking to newer, advanced parts of your brain

A new Northwestern Medicine study found the 'lizard brain' is connected to newly evolved social cognitive network regions, which are involved in thinking about other people. This link helps shape the function of the social cognitive network by giving it access to the amygdala's role in processing emotionally important content.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 22, 2024

Study reveals importance of student-teacher relationships in early childhood education

A new study explores the significance of student-teacher relationships in promoting children's development during early elementary school years. The research highlights the importance of close and conflict-free relationships between students and teachers, with benefits extending across multiple grade levels.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 20, 2024

Traditional Mayan practices have long promoted unique levels of family harmony. But what effect is globalization having?

Research by UC Santa Cruz psychologist Barbara Rogoff finds that globalization has reduced collaborative interactions among Mayan families, but they still prioritize harmonious relations and community involvement. The traditional practice of Learning by Observing and Pitching In remains a key strength for Indigenous communities.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalChild Development·DateNov 15, 2024

It’s my brain’s fault! Why teenagers make often unwise decisions

A recent study published in PLOS Biology found that teenagers often make suboptimal choices due to limited cognitive resources. As they grow older, these 'noisy' decisions decrease and are replaced by more sophisticated choice behaviors. This improvement is linked to increased performance across learning tasks.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 14, 2024

African voices in ink

The book uses a 'history from below' approach to center the voices of petitioners, revealing how they framed their demands using language like justice, rights, and equity. Through over 4,000 petitions, Dr. Bright Alozie shows the significance of this genre in shaping colonial society and influencing decision-making.

Gentrification can leave residents feeling powerless and alienated in their own neighborhood, research shows

A new study reveals gentrification's complex impact on residential communities in Seoul, Korea, finding that state-led urban change can lead to emotional displacement of residents. Meanwhile, property-led redevelopment has resulted in direct displacement and replacement of industrial clusters with high-rise residential construction.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalThe Developing Economies·TypeObservational study·DateNov 1, 2024

The ‘urban revolution’ was slow in Bronze Age Arabia

The ancient town of al-Natah in northern Arabia provides insights into early urbanization, characterized by a central district, residential districts, and protective ramparts. The site represents a transitional stage between mobile pastoralism and complex urban settlements, with estimated 500 residents.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateOct 30, 2024