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…

AI vs. Human Therapists: Study Finds ChatGPT Responses Rated Higher

Summary: A new study suggests that ChatGPT’s responses in psychotherapy scenarios are often rated higher than those written by human therapists. Researchers found that participants struggled to distinguish between AI-generated…

Ancient Ear Muscles Reactivate When We Struggle to Listen

Summary: Humans have vestigial ear muscles that once helped our ancestors focus on sounds. New research shows these muscles still activate when we strain to hear in noisy environments. Scientists…

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…

Do Accents Influence Guilt Perceptions?

Summary: Accents influence perceptions of guilt, with those judged as “lower status” being considered more likely to commit crimes. Researchers analyzed responses from 180 participants who rated voices from 10…

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…

Teen Friendships Shape Long-Term Wellbeing

Summary: New research reveals that teenage friendships lay crucial foundations for adult wellbeing, with the timing and nature of these friendships playing a pivotal role. Early adolescence social acceptance is…

My Experiences in Ecology – Functional Ecologists

For Black History Month 2024, the British Ecological Society (BES) journals are celebrating the work of Black ecologists around the world and sharing their stories. In this blog, Dr Bashir…

Neuroticism Alters How Personality Affects Self-Control

Summary: Personality traits like conscientiousness and extraversion are linked to higher self-control, while neuroticism can weaken this effect, especially in specific types of self-control like resisting temptation or initiating proactive…

Digital Devices Hinder Kids’ Emotional Regulation Development

Summary: A new study reveals that using digital devices to manage children’s tantrums hampers their ability to regulate emotions later in life. Researchers found that frequent use of tablets or…