Summary: A new study has completely revived and expanded this lost chapter of human evolution. Leveraging modern molecular genetic dating and advanced phylogenetic statistical modeling, researchers revisited the classic dataset.…
Tag: PLOS
New Study Links Crossbreeding to Dog Anxiety
Summary: A large-scale survey of over 9,400 dogs reveals that popular “designer” crossbreeds—Cockapoos, Cavapoos, and Labradoodles—often exhibit more undesirable behaviors than their purebred progenitor breeds. The study utilized the Canine…
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…
Eyes Blink in Time With Music, Revealing Hidden Brain Rhythms
Summary: New research shows that spontaneous eye blinks naturally sync to the beat of music, revealing a hidden form of auditory-motor synchronization that occurs even without conscious movement. In more…
Oxidative Stress May Drive Repetitive Behaviors Linked to Autism, OCD
Summary: A new study shows that oxidative stress—an imbalance between damaging molecules and antioxidants—may contribute to repetitive behaviors observed in mice, similar to those seen in autism spectrum disorder and…
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…
