Summary: Researchers have uncovered how losing the autism-linked gene PTEN in a specific set of inhibitory neurons reshapes brain circuits tied to fear and anxiety. Using advanced circuit-mapping techniques, they…
Tag: Psychology
Exercise Proven to Boost Kids’ Mental Health
Summary: A massive analysis of over 375 trials shows that structured exercise significantly reduces depression and anxiety in children and teens. Low-intensity resistance activities like light weights were most effective…
Death Isn’t the End: AI Brings Lost Voices Back to Life
Summary: A new paper explores how generative AI is transforming the way we interact with the dead, from virtual reality reunions to lifelike digital avatars. These “generative ghosts” can remember,…
Brain Injury Could Explain Sudden Criminal Behavior
Summary: A new study has found that damage to a specific white matter pathway in the brain—the right uncinate fasciculus—may increase the likelihood of criminal or violent behavior following brain…
Grip Strength Reveals Brain Clues Behind Early Psychosis
Summary: Psychosis may start not with hallucinations, but with subtle motor changes like reduced grip strength. A new study reveals that lower grip strength in people with early psychosis is…
Philly psychology students map out local landmarks and hidden destinations where they feel happiest
What makes you happy? Perhaps a good night’s sleep, or a wonderful meal with friends? I am the director of the Happiness Lab at Drexel University, where I also teach…
Choose Your Battles: Identity Shapes Displaced Aggression
Summary: Displaced aggression—redirecting frustration onto an uninvolved target—has now been studied in mice, revealing that identity and social history play key roles in shaping aggressive behavior. Male mice primed by…
How PTSD Disrupts Brain Cell Communication
Summary: A new study has examined brains affected by PTSD at the single-cell level, uncovering distinct genetic alterations that may drive the disorder. Researchers focused on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,…
Why Some People Struggle to Recognize Faces of Other Races
Summary: New research reveals that some individuals may experience selective difficulty recognizing faces from racial groups different from their own, a phenomenon known as category-selective face blindness. While general face…
