Summary: Researchers discovered that lonely fans of “Game of Thrones” processed their favorite characters similarly to real friends in their brains. By using fMRI scans while participants considered the traits…
Category: brain research
Not All Older Adults Reap Cognitive Benefits of Life Satisfaction
Summary: A new study delves into the link between life satisfaction and cognitive functioning in older adults. Surprisingly, while many studies advocate life satisfaction as a cognitive booster, this study…
Mood Dips During Pill Pause
Summary: Research reveals that women’s mood can decline during the 7-day pill-free interval of contraceptive cycles. The study evaluated the mental health of long-term pill users and found heightened anxiety…
ChatGPT’s Choices: Overload or Overjoyed? Decoding Decision Dynamics
Summary: Researchers delved into how ChatGPT influences user decision-making, focusing on the ‘choice overload’ phenomenon. This condition emerges when an individual is overwhelmed by numerous options, often leading to decision…
Jamais Vu: When the Familiar Turns Eerily New
Summary: Repetition in the brain gives rise to two peculiar phenomena: déjà vu and its lesser-known counterpart, jamais vu. The latter makes familiar experiences feel eerily new and unsettling. Recent…
Upside Down World: Unique View Offers Clues to Face Recognition
Summary: Claudio’s unique head orientation—rotated nearly 180 degrees—allowed researchers to explore the evolutionary and experiential factors in face recognition. While most people struggle to recognize inverted faces, Claudio’s distinct vantage…
Predicting PTSD: Brain Scans Unravel Trauma’s Long-term Effects
Summary: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 2% to 10% of trauma survivors, manifesting as intense anxiety from emotional disbalance. Researchers employed brain scans on 104 trauma survivors to determine which…
Brain’s Molecular Response to Psychological Loss
Summary: Psychological loss, be it from job loss or the death of a loved one, affects well-being immensely, yet its molecular mechanism in the brain remains enigmatic. Researchers utilized the…
Dad Time Boosts Kids’ School Success
Summary: A new study reveals that fathers engaging in interactive activities with their children, such as reading and playing, significantly improve their kids’ primary school performance. Analysis of the Millennium…
