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…
Tag: 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…
Study Supports and Expands the Primate Brain Lag Hypothesis
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.…
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,…
