Summary: A new study has found that sexual narcissism mediates the link between childhood trauma and compulsive sexual behavior. Researchers compared individuals with and without compulsive sexual behavior, measuring trauma…
Category: brain research
How Upbringing Shapes Risk Decisions
Summary: A new study suggests that the way you take risks as an adult may depend less on how risky you are by nature and more on the types of…
When Music Falls Flat: Why Some Brains Don’t Enjoy Music
Summary: Some people feel absolutely nothing when listening to music—and not because of bad taste. A rare condition called specific musical anhedonia involves a disconnect between the brain’s auditory and…
How Kids Learn What Emotions Really Mean
Key Questions Answered Q: Why do young children struggle to recognize adult emotions?A: Young children rely heavily on facial perception and haven’t yet developed the conceptual knowledge needed to fully…
Brain Reward Signals Blunted by Genetic Depression Risk
Key Questions Answered Q: How does genetic risk for depression affect the brain?A: Young adults with a higher genetic predisposition to depression showed reduced brain activity in key areas linked…
Empathy Can Be Emotionally Conditioned
Key Questions Answered Q: Can empathy be learned through emotional reward?A: Yes. The study found that when someone else’s joy is consistently paired with personal reward, the brain begins to…
Murder-Suicide Rates in U.S. Higher Than Previously Estimated
Key Questions Answered Q: How common are murder-suicide events in the U.S.?A: The study found an average of 820 deaths per year from murder-suicide events—higher than previous estimates. Q: Who…
Poverty Isn’t the Key Driver in Family Mental Health Struggles
Key Questions Answered Q: Does poverty amplify mental health problems between parents and children?A: The study found no evidence that poverty strengthens the relationship between parental distress and child mental…
Women’s Scent During Ovulation Alters Male Stress and Attraction
Key Questions Answered Q: What did the study find about female body odor during ovulation?A: Researchers identified three specific scent compounds that increase during ovulation and found they made armpit…
Childhood Trauma May Rewire Brain for Lifelong Aggression
Key Questions Answered: Q: What brain region is being studied to understand aggression?A: Researchers are focusing on the thalamic nucleus reuniens, which connects memory, emotion, and decision-making areas of the…
