Doubting Your Doubts Can Boost Motivation

Summary: When people facing uncertainty about an important identity goal are nudged to question the validity of their own doubts, their commitment to that goal actually increases. The research demonstrates…

Psychedelics May Shift Brain Power to the Right Hemisphere

Summary: A new theory suggests that psychedelics promote empathy, insight, and psychological flexibility by making the brain’s right hemisphere temporarily dominant over the left. Known as HEALS—Hemispheric Annealing and Lateralization…

25% of Adults Suspect Undiagnosed ADHD

Summary: A new survey reveals that 25% of adults in the U.S. suspect they may have undiagnosed ADHD, though only 13% have consulted a doctor. Social media has driven greater…

Why We’re Confident with Only Half the Story

Summary: A new study reveals that people often overestimate the amount of information they have when making decisions, a phenomenon researchers call the “illusion of information adequacy.” Participants who were…

Loneliness Merges Real and Fictional Friends in the Brain

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…