Summary: A massive psychological survey of over 15,000 UK adults published in PLOS One reveals that nearly 70% of people remember hugs primarily for their comfort, emotional support, and sense…
Category: PLOS
How the Brain Maps Every Number
Summary: A neuroimaging study led by cognitive neuroscientists at the INSERM-CEA Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit (Unicog) reveals that the human brain constructs a continuous, highly structured spatial semantic map in the…
Nonordinary Experiences Lead to Long-Term Personal Growth
Summary: Researchers investigated how individuals perceive and process nonordinary experiences (NOEs), such as out-of-body experiences, extrasensory perception, and sensing an unseen presence. Utilizing a newly validated 47-item Inventory of Nonordinary…
Evolution of Fear: Ancestral vs. Modern Threats
Summary: Do we fear a loaded gun the same way we fear a venomous snake? A new study suggests that while our bodies react to both, our “evolutionary” fears trigger…
Can a Disconnected Brain Be Conscious?
Summary: A new study reveals that sleep-like slow-wave brain activity can persist for years in surgically disconnected brain hemispheres of awake epilepsy patients. Using EEG recordings, researchers found that the…
Five Sleep Types Revealed: How Your Brain Wiring Reflects Rest
Summary: A new study has identified five distinct “sleep-biopsychosocial” profiles that connect how we sleep with our brain networks, mental health, cognition, and lifestyle. Using data from over 700 participants,…
The Midlife “Unhappiness Hump” Has Vanished, But at a Cost
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,…
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…
