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Training gives kids of AIDS patients a leg up

A simple training program can improve early-childhood development in children of AIDS patients by teaching caregivers how to support their children's social skills and cognitive abilities. The study found that these children made significant gains in language learning, memory, and overall cognitive skills after receiving the training.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics·DateApr 10, 2013

Study: Behavioral therapy for children with autism can impact brain function

Researchers found increased activation in brain regions utilized by typically developing kids after four months of Pivotal Response Treatment. This suggests improved social engagement and processing of low-level social stimuli. The study's findings have implications for early intervention and potential long-term benefits.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·DateFeb 14, 2013

Can therapy dogs be beneficial for children with autism spectrum disorder?

A review of published studies suggests that interactions with therapy dogs can help children with ASD develop emotional attachments and interaction in a social setting, leading to improved interpersonal communication. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and build on the current evidence.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine·DateFeb 12, 2013

When identity is tied to former employer, unemployed report higher well-being

A study by San Francisco State University Assistant Professor Jennifer Tosti-Kharas found that unemployed individuals who strongly identified with their former employer reported feeling more confident and having a greater sense of purpose. This strong sense of self appeared to offset the isolation common during job loss, particularly f...

SourceSan Francisco State University·JournalJournal of Managerial Psychology·DateNov 9, 2012

Early autism intervention improves brain responses to social cues

An autism intervention program that emphasizes social interactions has been found to improve cognitive skills and brain responses to faces, a building block for social skills. The program improved attention and cognition brain activity to social stimuli, making the brain function patterns more similar to typical developing children.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateOct 29, 2012

Study examines thoughts and feelings that foster collaboration across cultures

A study by Michael Morris and colleagues reveals that individuals with high cultural metacognition tend to develop more affectively trusting relationships with people from other cultures, enabling the free flow of ideas. This leads to greater success in collaborative creativity across cultural lines. The research highlights the importa...

SourceColumbia Business School·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateSep 12, 2012

Male mice exposed to chronic social stress have anxious female offspring

A study published in Biological Psychiatry found that chronic social stress caused by unstable cage composition in adolescent mice led to increased anxiety and poor social interactions in their female offspring. The effects were observed across multiple generations, with stressed male mice also passing on these behaviors to their femal...

SourceTufts University, Health Sciences Campus·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateAug 22, 2012

Middle-class children: Squeaky wheels in training

A study by Indiana University sociologist Jessica McCrory Calarco found that middle-class parents encourage their children to ask questions and seek help, while working-class parents coach them to avoid problems. This difference in parenting approaches can impact children's ability to interact with institutions later in life.

Babies may not have a 'moral compass' after all

Recent studies from New Zealand's University of Otago challenge the idea that infants as young as six months possess an innate moral compass, instead suggesting their preferences may be driven by interesting events. Researchers found that infants' choices could be explained by simple associations with specific visual stimuli.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 15, 2012

UCSB autism researchers find that focusing on strengths improves social skills of adolescents

A new study by UCSB researchers found that adolescents with ASD can improve their social skills by playing to their strengths, such as high intelligence and specific interests. The research team created social clubs around these interests, where students with ASD could interact and make friends with peers.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Positive Behavior Interventions·DateAug 1, 2012

Individuals cooperate according to their emotional state and their prior experiences

Researchers found that individuals prioritize reciprocity over network structure when deciding to cooperate. This challenges traditional theories on cooperation among individuals. The study, published in PNAS, used a social conflict prototype called the Prisoner's Dilemma and involved 1,200 Aragon secondary students.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 4, 2012

Harnessing the predictive power of virtual communities

Scientists have created a propagation-based algorithm to extract both link-density and link-pattern communities from real-life networks. This approach outperforms existing state-of-the-art algorithms in detecting real-life communities, particularly those characterized by internal patterns of similar connectedness.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJan 30, 2012

Autism Speaks launches 'Visual Supports' tool kit

The new tool kit provides valuable guidance on utilizing pictures and visual supports to facilitate daily communication, social interactions, and adaptation to new situations. It has been found to decrease challenging behaviors and increase compliance and independence in families who use it.

Nice guys can finish first

A new Harvard study found that dynamic social networks encourage cooperation and friendliness, while selfish behavior can lead to exclusion from the group. Players who re-wired their social connections were more willing to form new relationships with generous individuals.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2011

Social class as culture

People from lower classes have fundamentally different ways of thinking about the world than people in upper classes. Lower-class individuals are better at reading other people's emotions and act altruistically. In contrast, wealthier people don't read others' emotions as well and hoard resources.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateAug 8, 2011

Do kids prefer playmates of same ethnicity?

A study by Concordia University researchers found that Asian-Canadian and French-Canadian preschoolers tend to interact more with children of their own ethnic group. The children were observed to be more competitive when playing with peers of the same ethnicity.

SourceConcordia University·JournalEuropean Journal of Developmental Psychology·DateJun 21, 2011

Our own status affects the way our brains respond to others

A new study found that people with higher social status respond more strongly to information about others of higher status, while those with lower status respond more strongly to information about others of lower status. This effect is linked to the brain's value system and has important implications for social behavior and interactions.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 28, 2011

To meet, greet or retreat during influenza outbreaks?

A new model suggests that severing social interactions may not be the best approach to prevent disease spread during influenza outbreaks. The researchers found that a moderate increase in the price of interpersonal contact can lower the peak prevalence of the disease while increasing overall societal utility.

SourceNational Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 28, 2011

Wayne State study links testosterone with men's ability to 'woo' potential mates

A study by Richard Slatcher found that testosterone levels are associated with men's dominance behaviors and success when competing for an attractive woman. Men with high testosterone levels and a strong desire for social dominance were more likely to suppress their competitors' ability to attract the woman.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateMar 10, 2011

Teaching robots to move like humans

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found that when robots move in a more human-like fashion, people can better recognize what the robot is doing and mimic it themselves. The study used motion-capture technology to program a robot to perform human movements, resulting in improved human-robot interaction.

Freedom to choose leisure activities benefits people with autism

A recreation program that allowed autistic adults to choose their own leisure activities improved their communication and social skills, according to Penn State researchers. Participants scored higher on personality tests than a control group, showing significant improvement in recognizing and labeling emotions.

SourcePenn State·JournalResearch in Autism Spectrum Disorders·DateMar 1, 2011