How Curiosity Styles Shape Wikipedia Use and Learning

Summary: A study of global Wikipedia browsing patterns reveals three curiosity styles: the focused “hunter,” the exploratory “busybody,” and the creative “dancer.” Data from 482,760 readers in 50 countries shows…

Depression Alters Brain Circuits, Heightening Negative Perception

Summary: Scientists have identified how depression alters the brain’s response to positive and negative stimuli, particularly in the amygdala, a key emotional processing center. The study found that depression reduces…

Individual Reward-Seeking Predicts Nicotine Response

Summary: A new study finds that individualistic reward-seeking behaviors in mice can predict their responses to nicotine. Conducted in a semi-natural environment called Souris-City, the research observed how male mice…

Chick Calls Reveal Emotional States

Summary: Researchers have developed a way to measure stress in baby chicks using vocalizations, offering new insights into animal emotions. The study found that chicks alone produced higher-pitched, louder calls,…

How Social Learning Guides Decisions When Preferences Differ

Summary: A new study shows that humans use social information to guide their decisions, even when others’ preferences differ from their own. Researchers found that people treat social cues as…

Youth Face Rising Risks of Harassment and Exploitation in the Metaverse

Summary: A new study reveals that youth are vulnerable to various forms of harm in the metaverse, including bullying, harassment, and sexual exploitation. Using data from over 5,000 U.S. teens,…

Social Media Verification Drives Polarization and Echo Chambers

Summary: A new study shows that X’s verification system, which gives verified users priority in algorithms, can increase polarization and trigger the formation of echo chambers. Researchers used computational modeling…

Happy Partners Help Reduce Stress in Older Adults

Summary: Having a happy intimate partner can lower stress levels in older adults by reducing the production of cortisol, a stress hormone. Couples with higher relationship satisfaction experience an even…

Emotional Blindness Drives Empathy Deficits in Psychopathy

Summary: A new study links psychopathy with alexithymia, or emotional blindness, which may explain the emotional deficits seen in people with psychopathic traits. Individuals with strong psychopathic traits struggle to…

Mental Fatigue Increases Temptation for Rewards

Summary: New research reveals that mental fatigue makes rewards like unhealthy snacks more tempting. Both rats and humans who exerted cognitive effort sought out more rewards, with rats self-administering more…