Mike returned home to Philadelphia after a 15-year prison sentence and suffered an emotional breakdown. “I just couldn’t stop crying … I don’t know. It was the anxiety. It was…
Tag: Psychology
Toxoplasma Parasite Influences Personality and Aggression
Summary: New research highlights how parasitic infections can alter brain chemistry and behavior in humans. Toxoplasma gondii, among others, appears to manipulate dopamine and immune responses, increasing risk-taking, impulsivity, and…
Tiny Brain Region Orchestrates How We Segment and Remember Life Events
Summary: Our memories don’t flow like a continuous stream—they’re divided into meaningful events, thanks to a tiny brain region called the locus coeruleus. New research shows this region acts like…
Hepatitis C Found in Brain Lining Linked to Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
Summary: Researchers have discovered hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the brain lining of individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, suggesting a possible link between infection and psychiatric symptoms. The study…
Oxytocin Protects Mood During Sleep Loss
Summary: New research suggests oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone,” may help protect women from mood disturbances caused by sleep disruption and hormonal changes during postpartum and menopause. In a controlled…
Maternal Depression Linked to Weaker Bonds
Summary: A comprehensive global review confirms that maternal depression undermines parenting, impairing mother-infant bonding and reducing sensitivity to a child’s needs. Researchers analyzed nearly a decade of observational studies, finding…
Spotting Silent Scars: A New Way to Detect Childhood Abuse
Summary: Childhood maltreatment leaves profound and often unseen scars, affecting mental health, physical well-being, and social development long into adulthood. Traditional assessments are invasive and often miss the full scope…
Familiar Faces and Fights: What Monkeys Like to Watch Most
Summary: A new study reveals that long-tailed macaques, like humans, are most captivated by videos featuring social conflict and familiar group members. Researchers showed the macaques videos of monkeys engaged…
Mental Health Benefits of Exercise Depend on Context
Summary: A new study reveals that the mental health benefits of exercise depend not just on the amount of physical activity, but also on the context in which it occurs.…