Summary: A new study reveals that gender nonconforming play behavior in 7-year-olds is associated with increased behavioral difficulties, including autistic traits in girls and peer relationship issues in boys. Researchers…
Category: Psychology
Hidden Dopamine Neurons Balance Brain Functions and Behavior
Summary: Researchers identified a small group of dopamine neurons in the striatum that play a crucial role in balancing essential brain functions such as reward, cognition, and movement. This discovery…
What Your Movie Preferences Reveal About Your Brain’s Emotions
Summary: A new study reveals that your favorite film genre may indicate how your brain processes emotions. Action and comedy lovers show strong brain reactions to negative stimuli, while those…
Children’s Curiosity or Memory Gaps? Why Kids Over-Explore Tasks
Summary: Children often gather more information than needed to complete a task, even when they know the solution. A new study suggests this “over-exploration” might stem from either natural curiosity…
How Logical Thinking and Empathy Define Wisdom
Summary: A new study reveals that people across 12 countries and five continents perceive wisdom through two key dimensions: reflective orientation and socio-emotional awareness. Reflective orientation includes logical thinking and…
Knowingly Taking Placebos Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Summary: Researchers have discovered that nondeceptive placebos—placebos given with the full knowledge that they are placebos—can effectively manage stress, even when administered remotely. In a two-week randomized controlled trial, participants…
Memory Cues May Help Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Summary: A study suggests that recalling past alcohol experiences before drinking can slow down consumption, indicating a potential strategy to reduce alcohol intake. In the study, women who remembered a…
Psychosis Cognitive Impairment Linked to Brain Network
Summary: New research reveals that cognitive impairments in psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are connected to brain network organization. This connection is evident even before the first psychotic…
High-Dose Psilocybin Shows Potential as an Antidepressant Treatment
Summary: A meta-analysis suggests that high doses of psilocybin may alleviate depressive symptoms similarly to the SSRI drug escitalopram. While the effect size was small, psilocybin outperformed placebo in clinical…
Childhood Inflammation Linked to Later Mental Health Risks
Summary: Children with persistent inflammation are at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders like psychosis and depression in early adulthood. A study found that elevated inflammation markers, particularly…
