Summary: A new large-scale study finds that the long-observed “unhappiness hump,” where mental distress peaked in midlife, has disappeared. Instead, younger people now report the highest levels of anxiety, depression,…
Category: PLOS
Cannabis Linked to Reduced Insomnia and Anxiety
Summary: A new study suggests cannabis-based medical products may help people with insomnia sleep better over the long term. Across 124 patients followed for up to 18 months, participants consistently…
Breathwork and Music Trigger Psychedelic-Like Bliss in the Brain
Summary: New research shows that practicing breathwork while listening to music can induce profound altered states of consciousness similar to those caused by psychedelics. Using self-reports and brain imaging, scientists…
Depression Speeds Up Physical Illness
Summary: Adults with a history of depression develop long-term physical conditions about 30% faster than those without, according to a large study. Researchers analyzed data from over 172,000 participants and…
Long COVID Impairs Exercise Capacity and Cognition for Years
Summary: A study of nearly 1,000 people with post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) revealed that two-thirds still experienced significant symptoms, including reduced exercise capacity and cognitive performance, two years after infection. Persistent…
Women’s Tears Chemical Diminish Male Aggression
Summary: A new study reveals that women’s tears contain chemicals that significantly reduce aggression in men. The study, which builds on known effects in rodents, employed a two-person game designed…
Heartbeat’s Influence on Brain Activity
Summary: New research uncovered that the phases of a heartbeat significantly influence brain and motor system excitability. The study utilized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on 37 healthy volunteers to observe…
Machine Learning Deciphers News Language to Predict Country’s Peace Level
Summary: Researchers devised a machine learning model that gauges a country’s peace level by analyzing word frequency in its news media. By studying over 723,000 articles from 18 countries, the…
Childhood IQ and Wealth: Uncovering Diverse Financial Paths in Adulthood
Summary: Cognitive ability in childhood correlates differently with various aspects of financial wellbeing in adulthood. Researchers analyzed data from 5,858 individuals, considering their cognitive skills at age 10 and their…
Empathy Unleashed: AI’s Personal Disclosures Boost User Acceptance
Summary: When artificial intelligence (AI) agents disclose personal information, it can boost users’ empathy towards them, thus increasing acceptance of AI technologies. The study involved online experiments where participants engaged…
