Summary: As AI technologies grow more human-like, some people are forming deep, long-term emotional bonds with them, even engaging in non-legally binding marriages. A recent opinion paper explores the ethical…
Tag: brain research
Shared Brain Circuit Drives Political Passion Across Ideologies
Summary: A new study has identified a brain circuit that correlates with how intensely people engage in politics, regardless of their political beliefs. Researchers examined data from 124 male military…
Lip Size Shapes Beauty Perception, Preferences Differ by Gender
Summary: New research reveals that lip size significantly influences how people perceive facial attractiveness, and these perceptions vary based on gender and exposure. Female participants preferred plumper lips on female…
Elevated Dopamine in Cannabis Users May Explain Psychosis Risk
Summary: New research reveals that people with cannabis use disorder (CUD) have elevated dopamine levels in a brain region associated with psychosis, such as schizophrenia. This may help explain why…
Brain Scans Reveal Political Leanings During Grocery Shopping
Summary: Researchers have discovered that people’s political affiliation can be identified with nearly 80% accuracy based on brain activity while making routine decisions like buying milk and eggs. Although actual…
Oral Bacteria May Help Detect Autism with 81% Accuracy
Summary: A new study has identified a strong link between oral microbiota and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), revealing 11 bacterial species with potential as biomarkers. By analyzing oral samples from…
Music Choice Can Harm Productivity
Summary: A new study shows that background music in workplaces can harm employee mood, energy, and job performance when it doesn’t match individual needs. This “music misfit” effect leads to…
The Subtle Power of Self-Deprecating Humor
Summary: Self-deprecating humor, when used thoughtfully, can help people regulate emotions, build trust, and foster connection—especially in therapeutic settings. Far from being purely negative, this type of humor signals humility,…
Serotonin Signals the Brain’s Best Guess About Future Rewards
Summary: A new study reveals that serotonin neurons in the brain may play a crucial role in helping us estimate the value of future rewards. Rather than simply responding to…
How Psilocybin Lifts Mood Without the Hallucinogenic Trip
Summary: Researchers have uncovered two key brain mechanisms—specific neurons and a serotonin receptor—that help explain how psilocybin produces long-lasting antidepressant effects. Their study identified pyramidal tract neurons in the medial…
